Nike Celebrates 45th Anniversary Of Cortez With Tribute To Long Beach County

There’s no sneaker in history that represents a specific region so rigidly like the Cortez does with Los Angeles. This classic running shoe has become synonymous with LA gang culture for decades, and this upcoming release for the shoe’s 45th Anniversary may be an indirect homage to the Crips, the Los Angeles-based gang known for its signature blue colors. This “Long Beach County” version features special “LBC” embroidering on the heel with special insoles that commemorate the 45th Anniversary, which only suggests a much larger celebration of the shoe this Summer.

Expect the Nike Cortez XLV “Long Beach County” to release on Nike.com on June 1st.