Deion Sanders and Nike have been steadily releasing models and colorways of his signature Diamond Turf shoe and cleat since mending their relationship in 2023. Starting with the Air DT Max '96 throughout most of 2024. If last year l was the year of the Diamond Turf 3, then 2025 might shape up to be the year of the Diamond Turf 1.
Sanders' original that blended the two sports in his professional life of Football and Baseball, hence the name "Diamond Turf". Regardless of the specific colorway, each that has been released fits into two categories. Retro release of a colorway previously released already (the wht/blk/red/gold DT1, Signing Day DT1 or the OG Maize DT3) or a Colorado Buffaloes specific colorway (Colorado Road/Home DT3s). The May 29th release adds a new lane to the Diamond Turf line colorways.
"White/Black" is a completely unique concept to the line
The Nike official name for this colorway is the Nike Air Diamond Turf '93 TD "White/Black". This marks a first for Nike with this particular line of cleats and sneakers. To a trained eye, the colorway feels almost like a greyscale interpretation of the original, yet somehow 'cleaner'. In both the White/Black and the Original wht/blk/red/gold, the white and the black are in the same places. The interesting twist is that if this was just a grey scaled version of the original, the red areas on the predecessor would create a medium grey.
In the White/Black there is no pronounced grey. What would've been red simply becomes black, adding to the 'cleanness' of the shoe. The one area of grey or metallic silver on the White/Black is the gold. Up until the release of the "Love Letter to Connie" colorway of the Diamond Turf 3s, all of them had an intentional area of gold. Gold was very important to a kid growing up in Ft. Myers, Florida in the 1980s. The White/Black is the first Diamond Turf (that isn't completely two shades of one color) that does not highlight any gold.
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"White/Black" has a long history of Nike success and popularity
One of the biggest and most long running design motifs that has sold well for Nike has been the very common Black and White. This design choice can be seen virtually everywhere, with every type of significant athletic shoe that Nike has made for 40 years. Think of any shoe you've ever seen that is predominantly black with some white logos and highlighting. Throughout their entire catalogue, a significant number of models have been available in a Black and White colorway.
What has been less prevalent but almost always does well is a White/Black colorway of an elite shoe model, or the complete inverse. Mostly white with black as the secondary color. The number one example of this is arguably the most iconic sneaker of all time, the Air Jordan XI concord. Once claimed to be a shoe you can wear on the court and with a tuxedo, the Concord 11s added something to the colorway conversation.
The White/Black Diamond Turf 1 does that. It has that effect. Now the Jordan 11 is white on top of black on top of a clear or "ice" sole. Whereas the Diamond Turf White/Black takes that idea and sets it to 'shuffle'. Giving the DT1 that same controlled chaos look it always had, while adding a tone of a White/Black drip found in less chaotic models. Marrying two intriguing concepts, the controlled chaos of a DT1 with the 'dressing up' sense that comes with a White/Black (as opposed to a Black/White) just feels like something we should've seen by now.
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Stepping out of niche decisions and into mainstream ones
Each and every Diamond Turf model, with few exceptions to date, has fit into one two categories. A throwback to something inherently Deion Sanders or Colorado Buffaloes specific. The original Diamond Turf 1 colorways (blk/wht/red/gold) are essentially Falcons colors with gold added. The Diamond Turf 2 has a 49ers specific colorway. The Diamond Turf 3 boasts a Dallas Cowboys specific colorway.
Even after the signature line began to fade in the early 2000s, we would see previous models in updated, team specific, colorways for Deion Sanders. There is a Baltimore Ravens DT1, Atlanta Braves DT1, Florida State DT 2. Also, the Emerald Diamond Turf 1 colorway returns soon. Despite Oregon being a big deal to Nike, the Ducks' Diamond Turf colorways still feel wrong but they exist.
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Everything new or discussed in 2023-2025 adds the possibility of University of Colorado Buffaloes specific colorways. The White/Black is the first departure from something specific to Deion's playing career or something specific to his current coaching job. The show also adds a versatility aspect that the Diamond Turf line simply never worried about before. It's Sanders shoe non-conforming to design norms is not necessary with the power of Primetime behind it. The White/Black is the first attempt by Nike to make a model fit a colorway that is a more versatile footwear option. If the Love Letter to Connie (red on red) or the Colorado Away (white/gold) wasn't your cup of tea, there is a very good chance the White/Black very much is.
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The White/Black put two feet down in two different worlds
The Diamond Turf signature line will always be classics within the realm of the signature shoe space. The Diamond Turf 1 is particularly noteworthy as it was designed with Deion Sanders in mind and it was a significant shift in design thinking of the time. It took a design concept that had been successful and suggested they could color outside the lines because of who it was for.
It combines cross trainer needs with the agility needs of a basketball shoe while adding design advancements suitable for an athlete of Sanders' caliber, the Diamond Turf 1 sits among an elite company of innovative and pushing the envelope design concepts.
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The Tinker Hatfield (famous Nike shoe designer responsible for most of the classics) creation is one of the best. While everything from a design standpoint radiates "Prime", everything about the shoe was specific, niche or not intended for all audiences. The White/Black takes that idea and asks the question, why can't it be both? Can the Diamond Turf 1 break the normative mold while at the same time be suitable and versatile enough for every sneakerhead type?
The White/Black colorway of the Diamond Turf 1 releases on the last Thursday in May 29, and currently, only the cleat has a confirmed release date. However, if the White/Black does good sales numbers, the colorway could be successful enough to ensure a wide sneaker release in the same colorway.