Sole Collector reports that while the Diadora B. Elite was originally intended for tennis, the model migrated from its home of sport in the 1980s, and was adopted at a street level.
Maybe the most infamous of its fans was the late Harlem drug czar Rich Porter, who can be seen sporting the shoes in a number of vintage photos.
That history of the model informs this new collaboration duo, a set designed by retail chain Social Status. The store’s owner, James Whitner, recalls the d-boys of his youth obsessing over court models like this, so his update stems partly from nostalgia.
The Social Status x Diadora B. Elite “X Pic” takes the model in a new direction, dressing up two colorways with nappy suede, moccasin details, and bold stitching.
The “X Pic” Diadoras will release at all Social Status locations on August 5, 2017.
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