Li-Ning has tapped none other than rapper Rick Ross for some special makeups of Dwayne Wade's signature sneakers. Ross has left his mark on two different models, the Way of Wade Essence Ace and Way of Wade 7.
The collaborative effort between Ross and Li-Ning marks the Chinese brand's first artist partnership, formulated by retired NBA superstar/long-time endorser Dwayne Wade. Ross and Wade maintain a deep connection due to their mutual place of residence in Miami, so Li-Ning sought to blend off and on-court style informed by a healthy dose of the platinum-selling rapper's Floridan flair.
Sporting a regal makeup, Ross puts his irrepressible twist on the Way Of Wade 7. The high-performance basketball shoe interprets Ross's "biggest boss" ethos in an entirely different fashion, combining a black base with opulent gold and regal purple detailing. The signature embellishment is a removable black crown that wraps around the heel, uncovering a "Self Made" text hit when it's removed. Each pair features a unique number on the heel collar, with the shoe's run limited to only 500 pairs. Branded details on the tongue, heel tab and toebox finalize the motif.
Next up is an all-red Essence Ace. Ross wanted the construction, details, and materials to do the talking, so the upper features a mesh base overlaid with premium pebbled leather and gold metal badges on the toebox, quarter, and tongue tab. The three-piece midsole features a Li-Ning logo on the front, Chinese characters on the midfoot and Ross's stylized moniker towards the heel.
Both the Way of Wade Essence Ace and WoW 7 will release on Li-Ning's Way of Wade website and at The Edition Boutique in Miami.
In other Li-Ning news, they're currently the top-performing sportswear brand on the stock market.
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