'Dubrae’ was originally coined in 1994 by Nike designer Damon Clegg while presenting his design for an ACG boot. He realized he had no name to describe the boot’s ornamental lace tag, and so referred to it as a ‘doobrie’ – ‘thingamajig’ in Scottish slang. The designer had picked up the term from his Glaswegian roommate in college. However, those in attendance took ‘doobrie’ as a technical term – and it stuck.
The dubrae was formally introduced in the 2006 catalogue for the Air Force 1 retro, and is now one of the most recognised features on the silhouette. Prominent names in the industry like Adidas, New Balance, and ASICS, among others, embraced the trend by incorporating dubraes into their product lines. This was particularly evident in their collaborative efforts and exclusive releases. Established retailer Concepts consistently employs dubraes to create a distinctive impact for special occasions.
