Nike SB Songkran
Creative & Narrative Direction, Footwear Color Design, Tee Graphic Design, Nike SB x Ascend Network Solar New Year Event Leader.
Creative & Narrative Direction: Heather Truong
Footwear Color Design: Heather Truong
Footwear Graphic Design: Steven Gonzalez
Material Design: Philipp Gruenewald
Footwear Developer: Stephen Andrada
Product Line Manager: Tiffany Huet
Apparel/Tee Product Line Manager: Li Soo
Tee Graphic Designer: Heather Truong & Alex Picard
Footwear Merchant: Zack Fashouer
Apparel Merchant: Ry Benevides
Sports Marketing: Ryan Bobier
Brand Video: Janchai, Bee BujuGuru
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Songkran typically occurs within the hottest month in Thailand, April, as the spring harvest ends. The welcoming of the rainy season marks the beginning of the New Year, with water serving as a symbol of life, motion, renewal and purity.
Nike SNKRS
Behind the Design
Featuring:
Heather Truong (Collection Designer)
Stephen Andrada (Footwear Developer)
Sam Manklang (Ascend SEA Network)
Lk Kim (SEA Skater)
The Songkran Collection comes with a heart-driven backstory.
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When I initially stated the idea to do a Dunk for Thai New Year, it was originally rejected by leadership due to lack of shops in Southeast Asia and not having enough distribution there.
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But a fire continued to brew inside me. I decided to create a presentation with facts and evidence that skateboarding is growing in Thailand and how Nike SB has a rich Thai history. Representing the under-represented cultures within Nike was my goal and I believed Nike SB was the invitation.
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Here are some of the facts I shared to the leadership team:
Skateboarding workshops and programs are taught in schools in Thailand.
Skateboarding is growing
all around Southeast Asia.
There are 3 official skateparks in Thailand, one being Baan Preduce Skatepark.
The first skate park opened in Vientiane, Laos in 2023.
Danny Supa was Nike SB's first Thai skater.
Nike SB has a rich Thai history.
Eric Koston, one of Nike SB's most legendary athletes, was born in Bangkok, Thailand.
Preduce Skate Shop, Thailand's first skate shop, introduced Nike SB to Thailand in 2002.
Songkran is a time of year when family gathers to celebrate; much of that celebration comes with food. Representing the act of togetherness, sticky rice requires the person at the table to pass the basket. This Dunk represents passing of culture through the love of skateboarding.
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Using the staple of Thai cuisine, the overlays and underlays represent the beige woven basket material. The silver collar lining represents the aluminum pot used to cook sticky rice. The bright crimson contrast stitching represents the basket string holder.Â
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Graphic details include "Nike" in Thai language on the back tab, the deco stitch on the back heel references Tuk Tuk's (Thai taxis), and on the tongue label is a papaya salad graphic with a traditional mortar and pestal.
Footwear Concept & Ideation
During Songkran and other occasions, many artistic family members will carve artwork into fruit like watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew. Much of this artwork centers around the Lotus Flower which symbolizes purity and faithfulness.
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Highlighting Thai artistry and craftsmanship, our tee team allowed me to paint the illustration for the tee shirt and full control of the color work for the Songkran collection.
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The tee is offered in 3 colorways: Gorge Green, Coconut Milk, and Dark Driftwood. All colorways have contrast stitching to connect to the Dunk Low Pro.
Tee Concept & Ideation
Painting Timelapse by Heather Truong
The Product Launch
Songkran Dunk Launch Party
at Preduce Skate Shop in Thailand
With Guests Eric Koston, Danny Supa, Jake Anderson
"This was the first time anyone in Thailand has lined up for a sneaker release."
Over 500 guests
Nike SB x Ascend SEA Network Solar New Year Skate Event 2026.
A skate event at the Nike World Headquarters in collaboration with the Ascend Network, Nike's Asian Pacific Islander community employee network.
Lead by Heather Truong.
The Kickoff
Nike SB partnered with the Ascend Southeast Asia Network to bring Solar New Year to PHK Campus and the Nike LA Office through community moments and a special skate event with dance performances, activities, food, and special guest Eric Koston.Â
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The kickoff of the event planning began in January 2026 where all Nike SB teammates and the Ascend Network Community volunteers came together. Everyone was broken up into teams: Skate Ramp, Photo Op & Decor, Entertainment, & Table Activities. Thai food was catered by local restaurant to support small SEA businesses.
Teach me how to skate
(skate like a girl session)
Muay Thai Lessons
Sticky Rice Basket Scavenger Hunt
Community events
Ascend Network and Nike SB community were brought together with activations around the Nike Campus that allowed individuals to build community, learn a new hobby, and learn about SEA culture. These activations were created to connect people through skate and culture while leading up to the big Solar New Year event.
Skate Deck Art Day
Meditation Session
Event Building Fridays
Graffiti Workshop
Sai Sin Bracelet Tying
Nike SB Skate Park Closing Party
Poster Designs
Event Sketches
EVENT BUILDOUT
Every week starting from January to April, the community of volunteers met to help build out installations, assets, materials, entertainment for the Solar New Year event. Over 100 people have touched this event. Everything was built from scratch through hours of dedication. Most volunteers did not know each other when we started the event process and came out with incredible friendships. Many volunteers even got career opportunities from connecting with the community, learned a new sport like skate, and even got job experience.
