Beginning with the KD 4 in 2012, Durant remembered Pearl’s influence in his life by teaming up with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund to create a pink colorway in Aunt Pearl’s name; it’s now an annual tradition in the line. The shoes are further immortalized by pulling details from earlier KD Aunt Pearl colorways and incorporating them into the next iteration.
Details and inspirations for the Nike KD 12 Aunt Pearl include the pearl graphic on the collar foam that is drawn from the KD 4, the sock liner graphic from the KD 5, the rose heel graphic is from the KD 6, the strap from the KD 7, the heel embroidery from the KD 9, the material on the tongue, collar and Nike Swoosh from the KD 10, and the outsole marbling from the KD 11.