# Subtle Olympic Sneakers NikeLab's Commemorative Design is Refreshingly Less Flashy Than Most By Riley von Niessen | Published 2016-08-08 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olympic-sneakers References: [hypebeast](http://hypebeast.com/2016/8/nikelab-kobe-11-elite-brazil) & [nike](http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/nikelab?i) Olympic sneakers have been in no short supply lately, with sports brands left and right offering collections that boldly link the styles to themes associated with the games. However, the majority of these Olympic sneakers are vibrant in color and to the perception of some, a little too loud in execution. This is exactly what NikeLab's 'Kobe 11 Elite Low Brazil' avoids, with a minimalist aesthetic that's commemorative without being obnoxious about it. NikeLab succeeds in this by using an almost entirely white colorway, which is complemented elegantly with a gold outline that surrounds its iconic swoosh logo. Although the Olympic sneakers are uniform with its colorway, NikeLab's use of contrasting materials adds dimension to it well -- pairing the layered mesh upper with a snakeskin heel and a textured sole. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 88% | Activity: 75% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Minimalist Sneaker Design:** Explore opportunities to create Olympic sneakers with a minimalist aesthetic that stands out from the loud and vibrant competition. - **Contrasting Materials:** Consider incorporating contrasting materials, like layered mesh and snakeskin, to add dimension to sneaker designs. - **Commemorative Without Flashiness:** Discover opportunities to design commemorative sneakers that use subtle accents, like a gold outline or a textured sole. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Sports Apparel:** Innovate in the sports apparel industry by creating minimalist Olympic sneakers that appeal to customers looking for understated designs. - **Fashion:** Look for disruptive innovation opportunities in the fashion industry by incorporating contrasting materials into sneaker designs to create unique and eye-catching products. - **Athletic Footwear:** Explore the athletic footwear industry to create commemorative sneakers that balance elegance and nostalgia without resorting to flashy colorways. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Olympic-Inspired Skate Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dunk-olympic-safari.md) - [Boldly Patterned Skate Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olympics-colorway.md) - [Global Games-Inspired Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-jordan-6-retro.md) - [Stealthy Monochromatic Court Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/killshot-2-sneaker.md) - [Minimalist Suede Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/morse-code-cortez.md) - [Flashy Gold Utilitarian Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zoom-vomero-5-4.md) - [Monochromatic Minimal Collaborative Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dunk-low-pro-1.md) - [Festive Vibrant Celebratory Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/year-of-the-mamba.md) - [Sleek Low-Cut Lifestyle Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/court-shot.md)