Kobe Bryant’s widow Vanessa designed Nike Protro 8 sneakers set to come out on what would have been NBA star’s 45th birthday

Kobe Bryant’s widow Vanessa Bryant has designed a pair of new Nike sneakers called Protro 8, which the footwear company released designs of for the first time on Thursday. The sneakers are slated to go on sale August 23, which marks what would have been the late Los Angeles Laker star’s 45th birthday.

Vanessa on Wednesday posted an Instagram clip of a silhouette of the designer sneakers. She captioned the clip: ‘Kobe 8 “Halo” 8.23.23. This will be one of many Kobe 8 “Halo” styles coming soon.’ Vanessa, who is mom to daughters Natalia, 20, the late Gigi, 13, Bianka, six, and Capri, four, with late NBA icon, ‘imagined and created the Halo shoe concept and launch as a way to honor Kobe’s birthday each year,’ the shoe company said.

The sneakers are a modern take of the eighth shoe Kobe released under his brand name in 2012; and the second release from the late legend’s line since the release of the Kobe 4 Protro Mamabacitas in May. The company said that its Halo concept ‘will be an annual release that will honor and celebrate this special date’ of Kobe’s birthday. Nike said that for the latest model, ‘designers replaced the Lunarlon midsole with Nike React foam, allowing for better comfort and responsiveness and creating a more durable design overall. Also updated is the herringbone traction pattern and the embroidery of the Swoosh on the upper and the Mamba logo on the tongue.’

After the late Los Angeles Laker star’s deal with Nike expired in April of 2021, Vanessa in March of 2022 took to Instagram to announce that she had come to terms with Nike on a new deal that will allow the company to produce shoes in honor of the late Kobe and Gigi Bryant. ‘We’re excited to announce our partnership with Nike is going to continue!’ Vanessa said in a post on the social media website. ‘I am so proud that my husband’s shoes are still the most worn by players on NBA courts and that the demand for his shoes remain so desired by his fans around the world.’

‘With this new partnership, fans will soon be able to have access to Kobe and Gigi Nike product for years to come and with Nike donating 100% of the net proceeds yearly for Gianna’s shoes to our Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation (M&MSF).’ Vanessa said she was ‘grateful’ to collaborate with Nike on the establishment of ‘a youth basketball center in Southern California that will share the Mamba Mentality with youth athletes for generations to come.’

Vanessa called the business endeavor ‘an inspiring moment’ for fans of Kobe and Gigi, and said that she’s ‘very appreciative’ for all of them. Vanessa had past publicly commented on social media about a scarcity of the signature Kobe Bryant shoes in the wake of his tragic passing. She said in December of 2020 that she had ‘reached out to’ the company after learning that ‘fans [were] having a hard time’ obtaining the Kobe 6 Grinch shoes; and was upset in June of 2021 after the company had produced a Gigi MAMBACITA shoe without her approval.

The family continues to remain resilient after Kobe, 41, and Gigi, 13, died with seven others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020. Also killed in the crash were pilot Ara Zobayan, 50, Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Keri Altobelli, 46, John Altobelli, 56, and Christina Mauser, 38. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12395819/Kobe-Bryants-widow-Vanessa-designed-Protro-8-sneakers-set-come-NBA-stars-45th-birthday.html?ito=msngallery

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