# Thai Salad-Honoring Sneakers The Nike SB Som Tum Dunks Pay Homage to a Classic Thai Dish By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2026-01-09 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-sb-som-tum-dunks References: [foodbeast](https://www.foodbeast.com/news/this-upcoming-nike-shoe-is-an-ode-thai-food/)  The [Nike](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/asparagus-colorway) SB Som Tum Dunks sneakers are a [food-inspired footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lays-x-saucony) style created to pay homage to a classic Thai dish for avid foodies alike to get their hands on this summer. The sneakers start off with the classic Nike [SB Dunk](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olympics-colorway) silhouette that's paired with woven panel details that pay homage to the hand-woven baskets used to carry papayas. The color scheme for the footwear maintains a very subtle profile with natural beige and silver hues, while the stitches and laces are seen in a bright blaze orange hue to give them the unmistakable appearance of papaya salad. The Nike SB Som Tum Dunks sneakers are accented by an embroidered bowl of papaya salad on the tongue and are expected to make their market debut in summer 2026. Image Credit: Instagram (@shuseum83) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.3/10 - Popularity: 70% | Activity: 58% | Freshness: 60% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% 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 - **Culinary-inspired Fashion:** The fusion of food culture and fashion showcases an opportunity to elevate lifestyle products with culinary elements. - **Cultural Heritage Footwear:** Footwear that pays tribute to cultural dishes can create a unique connection with consumers by celebrating diverse traditions. - **Sustainable Design Elements:** Incorporating natural colors and textures inspired by traditional materials highlights an opportunity for eco-friendly design in fashion. ### Where This Applies - **Footwear Industry:** The introduction of culturally themed designs offers footwear brands a way to expand their appeal and storytelling capabilities. - **Culinary Marketing:** Collaborating with fashion brands, culinary marketing can extend beyond food products to lifestyle accessories, enriching brand narratives. - **Cultural Merchandise:** The development of merchandise reflecting cultural elements provides brands with a means to enhance brand differentiation through unique storytelling. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Bronx-Honoring Skate Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-sb-2.md) - [Stylish Footwear Collab Drops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/supreme-x-nike-sb-dunk-low.md) - [Food-Themed Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chipotle-x-nike-air-force-1.md) - [Summer-Ready Bright Skate Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/red-stardust-colorway.md) - [Textural Suede Colorblocked Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dunk-low-panda-1.md) - [Blue Tonal Skate Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/university-blue-1.md) - [Animal-Print Patterned Skate Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snakeskin-colorway-3.md) - [Stealthy Collaborative Skate Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sb-dunk-low-3.md) - [Patterned Color-Blocked Skate Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sb-dunk-low-1.md)