Official Images! Union x Nike Cortez 'Off Noir'

News on this release was first published December 16, 2021.

Update June 17, 2022: Ahead of the upcoming release, official imagery has surfaced of the Union x Nike Cortez 'Off Noir'! Head here for the drop details.

Update May 19, 2022: It's been a long lead up but the Union x Nike Cortez has been confirmed via official imagery! Leaks have been flying around the internet for some time now, showing a stack of colourways that are allegedly also on the way. No exact release date has been stated as of yet. Stay locked for updates!

Union appear to be ramping up their collaborations as they celebrate 30 years in the game this year. Given their close relationship to Nike and a number of projects already in the works, such as the Air Jordan 2 and Dunk Low, here’s a look at a Cortez which might be joining the party.

As leaked by @solebyjc – though someone in the comments sections seems to suggest they did it first – the Union remake of an all-time classic sneaker is quite a radical departure from its usual form. The OG boutique has chosen an earlier iteration of the Cortez shape (read up on its complicated history here) with the additional rubber toe bumper. In keeping with the reconstructed aesthetic of Union’s recent Swoosh efforts, this bumper also shows up on the heels.

The rest of the design is also quite DIY, with suede and hessian panels clashing against pinked edges, visible stitching and exposed seams. Even the midsole foam wedge has a bit of a Swiss cheese look to it – perhaps it’s Crater Foam. In any case, this is unmistakably a Union colab, denoted by the ‘UN/LA’ tag, plus neat Swoosh branding and the ‘Frontman’ logo on the heel.

Let’s look at these shots above with a grain of salt until official confirmation comes from Union and Nike.