# Basketball Star-Honoring Velcro Sneakers KITH and Nike Joined Forces to Honor LeBron James By Riley von Niessen | Published 2017-12-29 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kith-and-nike References: [hypebeast](https://hypebeast.com/2017/12/official-look-kith-nike-lebron-xv) & [nike](http://nike.com) Although there's plenty of athletically oriented basketball sneaker designs to choose from, there's not nearly as many lifestyle iterations that appeal to consumers who have an appreciation for more modern and minimalist aesthetics, however [KITH](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-tie-20) and [Nike](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-xxii) are on their way to bridging this gap with the release of three new designs. The designs are a part of the KITH and Nike LeBron XV 15 collection, and therefore make use of statement embellishments that pay tribute to the basketball legend and his legacy, with the words "LONG LIVE THE KING" emblazoned in gold on the [Velcro](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hoka-mafate-three2) straps that overlay the uppers. In addition to the two designs that feature the Velcro straps, KITH and Nike created a pastel pink iteration that are accented with copper zippers. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.5/10 - Popularity: 51% | Activity: 17% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Modern Lifestyle Basketball Sneakers:** Opportunity for brands to create basketball sneakers with a modern and minimalist aesthetic, appealing to consumers who value style beyond athletic performance. - **Statement Embellishments:** Opportunity to incorporate bold and meaningful embellishments on sneakers, paying tribute to a specific athlete or brand. - **Pastel Color Accents:** Opportunity to introduce pastel colors and unique accents, like copper zippers, to create eye-catching sneaker designs. ### Where This Applies - **Athletic Footwear:** Disruptive innovation opportunity for athletic footwear brands to cater to consumers seeking more fashion-forward lifestyle sneakers. - **Sports Merchandise:** Opportunity for sports merchandise companies to collaborate with athletes and create limited-edition sneakers that feature statement embellishments. - **Fashion and Streetwear:** Opportunity for fashion and streetwear brands to expand into the basketball sneaker market by offering modern and stylish designs with unique accents. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Candy-Themed Tonal Basketball Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-xxii.md) - [Basketball-Honoring Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bb-4000-li-basketball-shoes.md) - [Athlete-Honoring Lifestyle Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/linen-edition.md) - [Minimal Collaborative Basketball Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kawhi-iv.md) - [Pink Tonal Basketball Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/i-promise-colorway.md) - [Athlete-Collaborative Low-Cut Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chevy-edition.md) - [Collaborative Textural Lifestyle Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/field-general.md) - [Basketball-Shaped Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-baller.md) - [Venice Beach-Inspired Footwear Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/venice-beachinspired-f.md)