Veteran professional skater Erik Ellington and Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning come together to pay tribute to the legend and icon, Bruce Lee through an apparel and footwear collection.

Erik Ellington ushered Li-Ning into the skate shoe market with the release of their freshman collaboration: the Li-Ning Erik Ellington Pro, in last year’s ComplexCon. The latter, for now, is better known for their Way of Wade basketball line and other sports and lifestyle endeavors, but the partnership’s output mark their first foray into the skateboarding space.

This wouldn’t be the vet’s first signature shoe however, having previously been endorsed by legacy skate brands Emerica and Supra. His first with Li-Ning though, gets a special makeup with the collaboration and blessings of Bruce Lee’s estate.

The pair takes inspiration from the Jeet Kune Do founder’s signature sparring outfit, particularly the pairing of his black shoes and white socks. The upper sees a white base protruding from the black canvas overlay. “Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute”, the martial arts school Lee founded in the early ’60s, is spelled out across the toe box. Through wear and tear, or by intentionally peeling it off, the aforementioned canvas overlays reveals a dragon pattern print hidden underneath on one side, with “Bruce Lee” on the other.

Branding elements stand in contrast to the monochrome makeup of the upper in yellow. Erik Ellington’s is present on the tongue and the lateral heel while Li-Ning’s is reserved on the outsole.

The footwear is available now exclusively at SSENSE and Sneaker District for US$155.

If you grew up skating in the same era as Erik Ellington, you might like the atmos x adidas Adimatic “OG Shoebox”.