Li-Ning's first skate sneaker collection

The Chinese sportswear giant Li-Ning has now decided to expand its proposal by introducing a line dedicated to skateboarding and created it together with the skater Erik Ellington. Ellington has a robust history of designing and producing popular skate shoes. His signature silhouettes are monumental in skateboarding and have inspired many skateboarders to take initiative in crafting their own products. Now, after a brief hiatus, Ellington is looking to do the same with Li-Ning.

The Li-Ning x Erik Ellington collaboration will debut its first sneaker, as well as a full line of apparel penned for later in the year. Despite its contemporary aesthetic, the Ellington Signature Model is at its core a high-performance skate shoe. Engineered with Li-Ning's BOOM midsole technology, the design draws inspiration from styles Ellington grew up wearing, referencing the appeal of vintage basketball and running shoes.

The shoe is showcased in a campaign majorly influenced by the energy of New York and the style of skaters on Ellington’' team. Shot by buzzing street photographer Lukas Gansterer whose raw, candid style pays homage to the world-renowned NYC street skateboard scene and perfectly meshes with the hard-hitting look of the collection and team including skaters Zach Allen, Tinga Johnson, and Davey Sayles.