SoleGRIND
| 👟 Sneaker Release Info | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Nike |
| Model | Nike Dunk Low |
| Style Code | CT5050-500 |
| Release Date | December 10, 2019 |
| Retail Price | $120 |
| Available At | SNKRS App |
The Nike Dunk Low “Viotech” is one of those shoes that has a cult following most sneakerheads know about but few have actually owned. It originally dropped in 2002 as a Japan CO.JP exclusive, which means if you weren’t in Japan or plugged into the right channels back then, you missed out. The 2019 retro finally gave the rest of the world a fair shot at one of the most colorful Dunks ever made.
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This isn’t a shoe for people who like clean, simple colorways. The Viotech is loud. It’s a patchwork of vibrant suede panels in purple, red, orange, blue, green, and yellow, all stitched together on a single low-top upper. If you want to blend in, this is not your shoe. If you want to turn heads and start conversations, it might be.
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The construction is what sets the Viotech apart from other Dunk Lows. Instead of the usual leather or synthetic upper, the Viotech uses premium suede across the entire shoe. Each panel is a different color. Red on the toe mudguard, blue on the toe box, orange on the mid-panel, purple on the eyestays and heel overlay, green around the collar. The Swoosh comes in a tan or cream tone that provides a neutral break from all the color. It’s a lot, but it works because the suede material gives each color a rich, deep quality that flat leather couldn’t pull off.
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The eyestays and inner lining are black, which is actually a new addition for the 2019 retro. The original 2002 version didn’t have the black elements. Nike also added Zoom Air cushioning to this release, which the original didn’t have. These are small updates, but they show Nike wasn’t just doing a lazy reissue. They refined the shoe while keeping the spirit intact.
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The heel tab is grey with “NIKE” written in black script. The tongue features an orange Nike tag. The insole is purple with a yellow and gold Nike Swoosh logo. Even the parts you can’t see when wearing them got the full color treatment. That attention to detail throughout the entire shoe is what separates a special release from a standard one.
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The midsole is clean white, which provides a necessary visual break from the chaotic upper. The outsole is solid purple rubber, tying back to the dominant Viotech hue. The colorway is officially listed as Viotech/Viotech, style code CT5050-500. It retailed for $120 when it dropped on December 10th, 2019.
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The history of the Viotech matters. When it first released in 2002, the sneaker landscape was completely different. There was no SNKRS app. No raffle system. No resale market as we know it today. Japan-exclusive releases were genuinely hard to get if you weren’t there. The Viotech became one of those mythical shoes that people talked about in forums and saw in magazine scans but couldn’t actually buy.
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Nike did bring it back once before, in 2013, but that release was also limited. The 2019 version was the first time the Viotech got a genuinely wide release through Nike SNKRS and select retailers. That accessibility meant a whole new generation of sneakerheads could finally experience this colorway without paying 2002 aftermarket prices.
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2019 was a massive year for the Nike Dunk in general. We saw the Panda, the Travis Scott collaborations, the StrangeLove, the Raygun Tie-Dye, and the Viotech all drop within the same 12-month window. The Dunk went from being an underappreciated silhouette to being the most talked-about shoe in sneaker culture. The Viotech release in December was a fitting way to close out that Dunk-dominated year.
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What I love about the Viotech is that it doesn’t try to be tasteful. It doesn’t try to go with everything. It’s unapologetically itself. In a sneaker landscape that has been dominated by minimalist colorways and neutral tones for years, the Viotech is a middle finger to beige. It says you can have fun with sneakers. You can be loud. You can wear something that makes no sense on paper but looks incredible in person.
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The premium suede construction means these require more care than a standard leather Dunk. Suede is susceptible to scuffing and water damage, so you need to be thoughtful about when and where you wear them. Some people would never wear a shoe this nice. Others wear them every day and let the patina build. Both approaches are valid. It depends on whether you see sneakers as collectibles or as things you put on your feet.
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The Viotech retailed at $120, which is a reasonable price point for a premium suede Dunk. The aftermarket tells a different story. Because the 2002 version is grail status and the 2013 retro is also rare, the 2019 version has become the accessible entry point for anyone who wants the Viotech in their collection. Resale prices have climbed steadily since release, reflecting the enduring appeal of this colorway.
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The Nike Dunk Low “Viotech” released December 10th, 2019 for $120. Style code CT5050-500. Colorway: Viotech/Viotech. A Japan CO.JP original that finally got the global release it deserved. Premium suede, wild colors, and a place in Dunk history that no other colorway can claim.
