'Dustulator' Pigskin Dunks

The now infamous Rick Owens Geobasket "Dunk" sneaker was introduced in A/W 2006's "Dustulator" Collection. Rick Owens designed the Geobasket because he felt that athletic shoes were simply too "prosaic." Pulling elements from Nike, adidas and Puma, Owens was attempting to—in his words—create monster trucks for his feet. The result was somewhere between moon boot and high-top, featuring an ultra-extended tongue, premium leather, a stapled sole and a chunky side-zip.

While at first glance the shoes looked entirely original, the most obvious rip was a Swoosh-like check on the medial side. Unfortunately for Owens, the Nike big wigs over in Beaverton were not too pleased and supposedly sent him a cease-and-desist letter. While Owens claimed he was "flattered to death" and "swooned" over the potential lawsuit, there is no existing record that the letter was ever actually sent, and Nike has never publicly acknowledged it. Regardless of whether it was all the greatest PR stunt of all time or actual impending legal trouble, the design was sufficiently axed. The design may have changed, but you can find still find echos the "Rick Owens Dunk" in modern Rick Owens Geobasket sneakers.

This highly unique pair from the 2006 'Dustulator' collection is made pigskin with a gorgeous soft lining.