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Nike’s Upgraded Sleeper Sneaker Was Inspired by…Watches?

Nike’s ongoing obsession with retro court shoes just took a surprising turn, inspired by another luxury product subculture.

Pair of off-white Nike sneakers with gold Nike logos on the heel against a green background.Nike
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By Ben Bowers

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Nike has spent the better part of the last decade proving that old-school court shoes can thrive far beyond actual courts.

The Killshot 2 became a menswear staple. The Field General unexpectedly crossed over from football nostalgia into fashion relevance. Even pared-back tennis silhouettes that once lived quietly in Nike’s archive have found new life as lifestyle footwear.

Off-white Nike sneaker with textured panels and a white sole, shown from the side.
The Tennis Classic PRM is a premium take on a 70s-era country club tennis shoe.
NIke

Now the brand appears to be taking another swing at that formula with a premium new version of the Nike Tennis Classic, and this time, the inspiration reportedly comes from a place few sneaker buyers would ever guess at first glance: vintage watch straps.

A country club classic gets a taste of the good life

Close-up of black textured Nike sneaker with gold logo on the heel tab and detailed stitching.
Nike’s product description states that the shoe’s texture is inspired in part by the look of vintage watch straps.
NIke

The new Tennis Classic PRM in white and black colorway keep the same understated, low-profile shape that made the original appealing in the first place. But the materials and detailing push the silhouette into noticeably dressier territory.

According to Nike’s own product notes, the shoe draws inspiration from “vintage watch bands,” which helps explain the textured leather overlays wrapping the Swoosh, heel tab and mudguard.

Pair of off-white Nike sneakers shown from the back with gold Nike logo on the heel tab.NIke

They don’t necessarily scream “Cartier tank band” or Camille Fournet – the leather maker behind Patek’s straps – from across the room, but the effect becomes at least a bit more obvious once you know what Nike was aiming for.

The embossed finishes resemble the kind of crocodile, pebbled and exotic-style leather textures that have long been associated with vintage luxury watch straps and old-school country club style.

Close-up of a cream Nike sneaker with textured snake-skin pattern and cream laces threaded through gold eyelets.
Both versions may look like they feature more exotic materials like gator or croc, but the uppers are actually just made from full-grain leather.
NIke

The result feels like a deliberate attempt to make the Tennis Classic look more exotic while moving further upmarket.

They’re funkier than the standard Tennis Classic, more premium-looking and just eccentric enough to stand apart without becoming difficult to wear.

Availability and pricing

Pair of black Nike sneakers with textured pattern and black laces viewed from above on a white background.
The sneaker is available in both all-black and ivory color options.
Nike

The Nike Tennis Classic PRM is available now directly through Nike in both black and ivory colorways for $125.

Compared to the standard Tennis Classic, which retails for $120, the price bump is noticeable but not outrageous, considering the upgraded materials and detailing.

Black low-top sneaker with textured leather panels and gold eyelets.
The premium version retails for $20 more than the standard Tennis Classic.
NIke

Whether buyers actually care about the vintage watch inspiration is another question entirely, but even without that backstory, these feel like one of the more striking executions yet of Nike’s ongoing retro-court revival strategy.

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.

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