words_Brandon Richard
Via Nike:
Nike and Kobe Bryant officially announced the launch of the Zoom Kobe VI today. The shoe is inspired by Kobe’s on-court alter ego, “The Black Mamba,” and features a design inspired by the fearsome snake. The Kobe VI, which weights just 10.6 ounces in a men’s size 9, also incorporates key performance elements into a low-cut silhouette.
“The Kobe VI is a very character driven shoe with the alter ego of the Black Mamba prominently featured,” said Bryant. “We continue to evolve the technology to make it a performance based shoe, but aesthetically you haven’t seen a shoe pop like this before. It brings to life what drives me.”
A team of Nike creatives led by Performance Footwear Creative Director Eric Avar worked with Kobe on bringing the “Black Mamba” character to life. Polyurethane “islands” on the upper emulate the skin of a snake and adjust in size throughout the shoe to protect the wearer against abrasion and increase durability. Inscribed on the front of the outsole is the term “Venomenon,” adding a lighthearted spin to the deliberate design. “The Black Mamba to Kobe means being one of the deadliest predators on the planet,” Avar said. “That’s his approach to every game – he’s very calculating and he’s very quick.”
As the insoles of the shoe indicate, Kobe told the design team that he wanted a shoe that would mold to his foot. To help make this a reality, Nike employed a dual-layer memory foam sockliner that conforms to the foot. Additional comfort is supplied by a Phylon injected midsole and Nike Zoom units in the heel and forefoot. The lightweight, low-cut concept we saw with the Zoom Kobe V was used again, but the thickness of the midsole was reduced to keep the foot closer to the ground and improve stability. 
Nike’s Flywire technology also makes a return, this time in a new, three-layer construction. A layer of mesh lines the inside, followed by Flywire and finished off with mesh and the aforementioned polyurethane islands. Traction is provided by a solid rubber outsole with a Mamba inspired herringbone traction pattern. Some versions released in China will make use of XDR outsoles for outdoor surfaces.
The Zoom Kobe VI was a direct result of interaction between Bryant and Nike’s creative team. Kobe wanted a shoe that was customized to fit his personality and style of play. “I always talk about good design being a balance between science and art, and one of the great things about working with Kobe is he always grounds every conversation in that concept, starting with the science,” said Avar.
The Nike Zoom Kobe VI launches in retail stores and online at nikestore.com on December 26, 2010. NIKEiD will launch an exclusive sneak preview of the Nike Zoom Kobe VI iD available to Facebook Fans on December 10 at facebook.com/nikeid. Customized versions will be available for sale on December 24 at NIKEiD.com.
Here's a look at an original Kobe VI sketch, by Tom Luedecke:
