Designed by Tinker Hatfield himself, the shoe took inspiration from the neoprene boot of a water ski, resulting in something aesthetically different but functionally groundbreaking. Its original marketing campaign — the shoe that “hugged your foot” — was a nod to the sneaker’s minimalist, form-fitting upper. Quickly outgrowing the running category, the Huarache dropped on the hardwood alongside other Nike basketball shoes, suiting up elite players like Michigan’s “fab five” basketball team – one of the most influential and flashy basketball teams of the ’90s.
The sneaker has since made strides to enter cleated categories like baseball, but above all, has locked in serious street cred as a stylish kids’ casual shoe, with most of its models coming in men’s, women’s, and kids’ sizes. The Nike Huarache collection of shoes has become a staple over the years, and continues to plug its unique aesthetic into kids’ Nike shoes like the Nike Huarache City, Nike Huarache E.D.G.E, and, of course, the ever-popular Nike Huarache Run for kids.
