18 November. That’s the date the Nike Kobe 9 EM Protro “Philippines” (IO6262-600) comes back, through SNKRS and the regular Nike retailers. If you were already into sneakers in 2014, that’s not a small announcement. The original “Philippines” was one of those Kobe colourways you regretted afterwards if you let it go.
The official colour name is Laser Crimson/Silver-Obsidian. It’s a wide release, not a raffle exclusive, and it comes in both adult and grade-school sizes. Retail for the adult pair is $200 in the US. I’ll only quote a European price once more than one source gives the same number.
Banig weave, jeepney colours
Kobe Bryant had a special bond with the Philippines and travelled there several times for clinics and events. Nike turned that into this shoe in 2014, and the Protro stays very close to the original. The pattern on the engineered mesh upper is inspired by banig, the traditional Filipino woven mat. Running through it are the red, white and blue of the Philippine flag, plus the bright colour mix of the jeepney, the hand-painted transport you see everywhere there.
On the photo you can see how busy that’s allowed to get: orange, crimson, cobalt blue and flecks of yellow mixing across the forefoot and the side. The silver Swoosh holds it together, as does the dark obsidian heel counter with Kobe’s signature in red. Underneath sits a translucent, icy blue outsole. According to the release coverage, a tsinelas, the slipper you see along every outdoor court in the Philippines, shows through it. That’s a detail for in-hand, it barely registers on product shots.
Six hundred euros a week early
Here’s where I’d slow down. On Solezilla.com the only listing right now is a single resale shop asking 607.95 euros, shown through two of its storefronts. That’s one shop, one ask, and about three and a half times the US retail price, five days before a wide release. Every listing is in euros; there’s nothing in pounds or dollars yet, so UK and US buyers have no local number to compare with.
My advice as a buyer: don’t pay that before 18 November. With Kobe retros you often see listings sky-high in the weeks before a drop, while prices tend to breathe a little in the first days after a wide release. If you can wait, you’ll usually land closer to retail than the panic buyers. And if you have small feet, look at the grade-school sizes. GS pairs often cost less and get overlooked by adults with a small size. Do check that the pattern and materials match before you buy, because GS versions sometimes drop a detail.
Everything around the Kobe 9 EM lands on the Nike Kobe 9 EM page, and the Philippines page will show the shops and prices per size once real stock arrives. Is the “Philippines” still a grail for you, or does it belong to 2014? Grail or Bail, vote below.