Nike SB Dunk Low x Concepts “Purple Lobster”

Released in 2018 to mark the tenth anniversary of the seminal Concepts x Nike SB partnership, the “Purple Lobster” stands as a museum-grade chapter in modern sneaker collaboration history—rooted in New England maritime culture and the storytelling approach that helped redefine the SB Dunk era. Concepts, founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts, built its reputation by translating local identity into globally legible design codes, and the Lobster series remains its most recognized narrative: a tribute to coastal heritage, skate culture, and the rarity-driven allure of the Dunk as a collectible object.

This edition fuses the visual language of earlier Lobsters—most notably the red and blue—into a saturated purple palette inspired by the natural rarity of violet-hued lobsters. The result is immediately legible and highly referential: premium purple suede with crisp white contrast stitching, a black-and-white check lining that nods to classic seafood-restaurant tablecloths, and the signature elastic forefoot bands referencing the way lobster claws are secured. Built on the skate-ready SB Dunk Low platform yet collected as a cultural artifact, the “Purple Lobster” has remained a cornerstone piece for serious SB archives; its limited production and enduring narrative relevance have historically supported strong secondary-market demand, making it a compelling acquisition for collectors focused on provenance, scarcity, and long-term category significance.