[Update 7 Feb 2023] Official campaign and product images have arrived, just a few days shy of their 10 February release date. Nevertheless, better late than never!

[Update 2 Feb 2023] CLOT has confirmed the release date for their latest Nike sneaker, a Cortez blended with elements from Chinese Kung Fu. Dubbed the “CLOTEZ”, this black-and-white or Yin Yang pair, the first of three to release, will be available 10 February at JUICESTOREs worldwide. Stay tuned for more updates as a Nike SNKRS drop will likely happen concurrently or in the near future.

[Update 17 Jan 2023] After being spotted on the feet of CLOT founder Edison Chen, detailed images of the CLOT x Nike Cortez SP were made public. We get a closer look at the detachable shroud that is attached to the jagged sole sections, and the yin-yang lace toggle pull cord attachment on the heel is used to loosen and tighten the black elastic sleeve.

The shoes’ distinctive construction enables them to be worn as a whole, as inner Cortez-style pairs, or just the outer sleeve alone as slip-ons in the manner of Old Beijing. And just as importantly, we get a magnified glimpse of a graphic tissue paper bearing brand logos and images of various Kung Fu moves.

[Update 4 Jan 2023] A newly-leaked photo has confirmed that the upcoming CLOT x Nike Cortez will comprise of two components—a leather upper and a fabric shroud that’s attached to the signature Cortez sole unit.

Interestingly, in this sample pair, the leather upper appears in white with a black Swoosh while the black shroud features a white partial Swoosh, harking back to the sneakers’s oriental Yin Yang theme.

[Update 22 Dec 2022] New images of the CLOT x Nike Cortez SP sneakers have leaked via Carter Wang. The most striking design detail on this collaborative Cortez would be the addition of a black shroud over the OG leather upper, “obscuring” parts of the Swooshes.

In these latest pictures, co-branding can be seen on the sneaker’s tongues—with CLOT and Nike’s logos getting printed on the left and right shoe respectively. At the rear, we see a drawstring toggle attached to the shroud (presumably for removal of the shroud), featuring the Yin Yang sign; just above the toggles, the left and right heels are each printed with the Chinese characters of “Kung” and “Fu”, further nodding towards its oriental inspo.

Following this oriental theme, the insole and tissue paper are also printed with motifs of the Yin Yang symbol and depictions of Kung Fu scenes. A spring 2023 release is tagged to this pair, so stay tuned for more updates coming along.

[Update 12 Dec 2022] One of the trio of collaborative Cortezes, a full season away from release in Spring next year, has been making some public appearances as of late. Although in no official capacity, they’ve been spotted on the feet of CLOT head honcho, Edison Chen as he intermingles with the gens du monde.

From what’s discernible from the images, they feature a white leather base layer, engulfed with a black nylon bootie from the lower half of the forefoot through to the heel. Where it’s exposed—the laces, tongue and the body proximate to it—sees it accented in black by the head of the Swoosh, breaking the uniformity of the shroud below with the rest of the aforementioned Swoosh’s lower outline.

There’re three pairs purported and with the atypical construction of the version-in-discussion, it will be interesting to see how its contemporaries will add variance to the pack. A release date hasn’t been disclosed at the time of writing. Perhaps, in the next update.

Since 2006, CLOT’s partnership with Nike has produced some of the most conceptually-intriguing pairs, from the Nike Air Max “Kiss of Death” to the most recent Flint-inspired Jordan Delta 2. And that says a lot considering that the latter has teamed up with a plethora of other labels, from every continent in the world.

Adding to their collaborative body of work, the duo will introduce a trifecta of Nike Cortezes scheduled for release sometime in spring 2023. There are no images to ascertain their aesthetic but they’re rumored to arrive in “Black/Varsity Maize”, in “Black/White,” and the last coming in in the classic Forrest Gump “White/Game Royal-University Red” makeup.

Expect to see some of CLOT’s design DNA to be imbedded into the classic silhouette. Whether it’s the unique mash of materials heretofore unused on the model, or the brand signature oriental motifs, the Cortez will definitely be planting its flag in a new terra firma like it’s conquistador namesake.

If their release blueprint stays the same as with their previous drops, expect the pairs to go live at JUICESTORE and Nike SNKRS when the powers that be says it’s time. First things first though, there’re the colder months ahead to get through so why not find out more about the Nike Burrow SE “Cacao Wow” & “Pilgrim”, the perfect lounge footwear for the season.