Nike KD 7 Aunt Pearl of Official Photos

It’s been nearly 15 years since Kevin Durant’s aunt Pearl was lost to lung cancer. Kevin annually celebrates her memory with a special colorway of his shoe, honoring her with graphics, colors and text, and this year he debuts the most personal design yet — the Nike KD 7 Aunt Pearl.

This year’s shoe is designed around the angel tattoo that KD has on his back. nike free 5.0 new zealand Created by Maryland tattoo artist Randy Harris, the angel was finished on the 10-year anniversary of Aunt Pearl’s death, a touching way for Kevin to carry her with him every day. The KD 7 takes the tattoo, line for line, and prints it inside the tongue, truly making it the centerpiece of the look, even if it largely goes unseen.

Further, that tattoo imagery remains a focal point thanks to a much simpler palette than we’ve seen on previous Aunt Pearl editions. Eschewing the wild pinks and floral patterns that have predominated on past pairs, nike shoes new zealand the KD 7 instead opts for sparse pink accents contrasting a solid-white upper, which in turn is finished with a pearlescent effect to accomplish an ornate, premium feel despite the tonal understatement. Says Kevin:

I’m so proud that my Aunt Pearl’s elegance was captured by this shoe. She always taught me to hold my head high and carry myself with humble confidence. It’s fitting that’s the exact statement this shoe makes to me.

The Aunt Pearl KD 7 will be available at select retailers February 19, along with themed T-shirt, hat and socks.

Nike KD 7 “Aunt Pearl”
White/Metallic Gold-Pink Pow-Pure Platinum
Style #: 706858-176
19 February 2015
$170