Grey may be a colour of diplomacy and neutrality, but there’ll be none of that once your favourite Nike players wear their favourite boots from the latest boot collection of the 2023/24 season. Nike Rising Gem Pack feature the Mercurials, the Phantoms and the Tiempo in a colourway that is unassuming and modest. But as the title suggests, behind these football boots are precious football talents that are yet to be unearthed. Perhaps the combination of crunch time adrenaline and boots with a restrained look is the key for new names to rise and for established prospects to take it to the next level. Rising Gem boots can also be showcased by today’s stars as illustration of calm and steadiness needed to handle the pressure of reaching the top.
Regardless of the silo, you get a consistent theme from the Rising Gem Pack. From heel to toe, the upper is coloured with ‘Atmosphere Grey.’ Ash or cement comes to mind when thinking about the particular shade of grey used in this boots. Now depending on the silo, the outsole displays a varying degree of iridescence. The window of the Air Zoom soleplate is at the shiniest of this gradient effect while the Tiempo is the most subdued in this regard. Across the collection, all brandings and logos are accented in black.
Rising Gem may actually be a referenced as well to what one can see on these boots upon closer look. From afar, the black detailing on the Swoosh might seem ordinary and familiar. But have the boots in close range and you will see cuts on it that resemble diamond edges. It is reminiscent of the Swooshes applied on the Phantom Venom. Hidden in plain sight, indeed!
Especially with the Mercurials, Rising Gem may also have a historical meaning. At least on the surface level, it has a similarity to the colour of the Mercurial Vapors worn by the Brazilian Ronaldo during the 2002 World Cup. Of course, there is a significant difference. Whereas the Ronaldo boots are shiny and metallic (even silverish if you will), the theme here is matte in nature. So regardless if it’s the Vaporposite+, Gripknit or Flytouch Plus, you get a Nike boot that is close to stealthy and humble.
