Ewing Athletics x Ric Flair 33 Hi Releases September 5
Ewing Athletics and wrestling icon Ric Flair have announced a collaborative take on the brand's signature 33 Hi silhouette, drawing design language from the Nature Boy's storied walk-up wardrobe. The shoe debuts September 5 at Cool J's Miami, with a wider online release to follow.
By Ava Rodriguez
The Collaboration
Ewing Athletics has tapped 16-time NWA world champion Ric Flair for a capsule that channels the wrestling legend's sartorial presence into footwear form. The partnership arrives months after New York's basketball fervor subsided, yet it represents a natural convergence: Flair's outsized personality and Ewing's New York legacy have always occupied adjacent cultural space. The 33 Hi—the brand's cornerstone silhouette—serves as the vehicle for this unexpected union.
Design Details
Rather than abstract inspiration, the shoe excavates a specific moment from Flair's archive: the teal and beige ensemble he wore during Starrcade 1983 and, significantly, during his first NWA championship victory over Dusty Rhodes in 1981. Floral motifs from that original outfit are woven throughout the upper, a visual callback to wrestling's most theatrical era. The execution avoids mere nostalgia—the palette sits grounded on the court-ready 33 Hi form, marrying spectacle with function.
Finer details elevate the piece. Heel embroidery reads "RIC/FLAIR" in crisp lettering. The tongue features the Nature Boy's recognizable "mid-WOO" expression, rendered as a custom graphic. Custom packaging rounds out the presentation, treating the collaboration as a collector's object rather than a routine drop.
Ewing Athletics' Expanding Roster
The brand has evolved considerably from its initial focus on the 33 Hi. Strapped mid-cuts and running silhouettes now populate the lineup, signaling ambition beyond heritage basketball. Yet Flair's collaboration finds its home on the original form—a choice that underscores the 33 Hi's enduring resonance within the Ewing Athletics vocabulary.
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Release Information
The Ric Flair x Ewing Athletics 33 Hi launches September 5 at Cool J's Miami, where Flair himself is expected to be present. A broader online release has been announced but specific details—timing, retail price, and participating retailers—remain unconfirmed. Interested buyers should monitor Ewing Athletics' official channels for the wider drop announcement.
FAQs
When does the Ric Flair x Ewing Athletics 33 Hi release? The shoe debuts September 5 at Cool J's Miami, with an online release to follow at a later date.
Where can I buy the Ric Flair x Ewing Athletics 33 Hi? The initial release is exclusive to Cool J's Miami on September 5, where Ric Flair will be present. A wider online drop is planned but has not yet been detailed.
What inspired the design of this collaboration? The colorway and floral detailing draw from the teal and beige outfit Flair wore during his 1981 NWA championship victory over Dusty Rhodes and at Starrcade 1983.
Release Info
Product: Ric Flair x Ewing Athletics 33 Hi
Release Date: September 5 (Cool J's Miami); Online TBA
Retail Price: Not confirmed
Available At: Cool J's Miami (in-store); Additional retailers for online release TBA
