First created in 1976, Pro Leather first debuted on the market as the most lightweight and longest lasting pair of basketball shoes: chosen by athletes of the calibre of Erving, the legendary Dr. J, they were worn by the very best basketball players in both college and professional leagues, before being removed from the market in 1983. Pro Leather was then subsequently proposed in new versions that culminated in the famous hoop-shoe silhouette, providing them with a place of honour not only in basketball, but also in the world of fashion.
Today, revamping the silhouette is Ibn Jasper: barber, skater, designer and stylist raised in the court of Kanye West, offering his personal interpretation of the bestselling Converse model. “This specific collaboration means a lot to me because I was born in the 70’’s and grew up in the 80’s watching leading NBA players like Dr. J.”, says Jasper. “The look takes its inspiration from a photograph that sees Dr. J entering the court in a total white outfit. It seems like he’s just stepped off a catwalk. I said to myself: how can I re-propose this image and its vibes in a collection?”
These are the origins of Pro Leather x Jbn Jasper, which takes the sophisticated style of Erving and presents it in a chalk white model with premium white leather upper and overlayings in grey suede, a python-printed tongue, and Roman numerals in relief that add a more historic feel to the contemporary design that is set off by the tongue with zip.