Skip to content

From the Vault: Nike SB Dunk High "Ferris Bueller"

Nike SB

From the Vault: Nike SB Dunk High "Ferris Bueller"

The “From the Vault” series digs into the shelves of the Stadium Goods stock room to find the rarest, coolest sneakers from yesteryear. Today we’re playing hooky with the “Ferris Bueller” Dunks.

Matt DeSciora

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve called out sick—from school, work, or anything that requires your attendance—at some point to buy a pair of sneakers. Ironically, in May 2008, Nike SB acknowledged that it's well aware that people sidestep obligations to cop new shoes when it dropped the “Ferris Bueller” SB Dunk.

Released in 1986, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is a comedy film that depicts actor Matthew Broderick as “Ferris Bueller,” a wiseguy high school student who fakes illness to skip school to hang out with his friends. Ferris finds himself in preposterous situations during the film, but shows uncanny moxie through it all. No different than anyone who’s ever been determined to lockdown must-have sneakers… while they were supposed to be somewhere else.

As one would expect, the Nike SB Dunk High “Ferris Bueller” is named and styled after the slacker kid from Chicago. Specifically, the shoe resembles the outfit worn by Ferris on his big day off from school. The light and dark brown leather panels mimic the pattern of his jacket; the white leather mid-panel symbolizes his white tee, and the Dunk’s colorful cheetah print tongue, inner lining, and laces are a nod to his mammalian-inspired mohair vest.

The Dunk High “Ferris Bueller” is as desirable as any SB Dunk, but appreciation for the colorway came with time. Like many releases during the second half of the skate shoe’s 2000s run, the “Ferris Bueller” actually sat on shelves.

Which in hindsight, means there was no reason to skip any prior commitments to track down this iconic SB Dunk on its release date. But there were undoubtedly some who ditched class or work to get a pair.

And Ferris Bueller wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Shop Nike SB at Stadium Goods