Short answer
Nike introduced the Dunk in 1985 as a high top college basketball shoe in team colors, with the “Be True to Your School” campaign, per Complex. Skaters adopted it in the 1990s, Nike started the SB skate line in 2002, and the 2020 to 2021 wave of Dunk Low retros, including the UNC pair, made it one of the most wanted sneakers again.
Timeline
Dunk milestones relevant to blue colorways
| Year | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Dunk debuts as a high top basketball shoe in college team colors, “Be True to Your School” | Complex |
| 1990s | Skaters adopt the Dunk | Wikipedia |
| 2002 | Nike starts Nike SB; the SB Dunk becomes its flagship shoe | Sotheby’s |
| 2005 | Diamond Supply Co. SB Dunk Low “Tiffany” (304292-402) | Blue SB Dunks |
| 2020 | Kentucky Dunk Low (CU1726-100) and Michigan Dunk High (CZ8149-700) retros | Royal blue Dunks |
| 2021 | UNC Dunk Low (DD1391-102) during the Dunk revival | Hypebeast |
Why so many blue Dunks
The Dunk’s identity is team colors, and many of the schools tied to it wear blue. Kentucky’s royal, Michigan’s navy and maize, Georgetown’s navy and grey and North Carolina’s light blue all became Dunk colorways, and Nike keeps returning to them.
See every pair in the blue colorway catalog.
Questions people ask
Who designed the Nike Dunk?
Complex credits Peter Moore, who is also credited with the Air Jordan 1. He developed it under the working name “College Color High”.
Which schools were in the 1985 Dunk pack?
Sources list different rosters. Kentucky, Michigan, Georgetown, Syracuse and UNLV appear in several of them. We have not found one authoritative list.
When did the SB Dunk come out?
Nike started Nike SB, its skateboarding line, in 2002, and the SB Dunk was its first big shoe. Sotheby’s credits Sandy Bodecker with leading the division at the time.
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Release details, codes and listings change; check the style code on the listing before you buy.