DEC_22_2019
Top 10 Sneaker Collabs of 2019
*Fair warning* - this ranking of the year’s best kicks might not vibe well with everyone. But here we go...
# 10
Nike SB Dunk Low - Staple Panda PigeonRelease Date: Jan. 15, 2019
Background: The Panda Pigeon was never supposed to reach production. It was a rejected sample of the first collaboration between Nike and Jeff Staple. When Jeff was relocating his communication design firm, he stumbled upon the prototype and shared to social media. The post took off and Nike had no other choice then to adhere to the people’s wishes.
# 9
Jordan 1 Retro High x Travis ScottRelease Date: May 11, 2019
Background: They give any sneakerhead goosebumps -- What else is there really to say?
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Background: They give any sneakerhead goosebumps -- What else is there really to say?
# 8
NIke x Sacai LD WaffleRelease Date: May 30, 2019 & Sept. 12, 2019
Background: When Chitose Abe‘s Japanese fashion label unveiled their collab with Nike, everyone had the same reaction, “whAt aRe ThOSe?!?”
Flash forward a few months and most people have fallen in love with Sacai’s layered aesthetic, multiple tongues and chunky soles. Not to mention WCW Naomi Osaka flaunted a pair at Paris Fashion Week.
Background: When Chitose Abe‘s Japanese fashion label unveiled their collab with Nike, everyone had the same reaction, “whAt aRe ThOSe?!?”
Flash forward a few months and most people have fallen in love with Sacai’s layered aesthetic, multiple tongues and chunky soles. Not to mention WCW Naomi Osaka flaunted a pair at Paris Fashion Week.
#7
NIke x Off White Air Max 90Release Date: Feb. 7, 2019
Background: Nike and Virgil Abloh have been hard at work following up the success of The Ten. In February, the two dropped the second round of Off-White Air Max 90s in two colorways (black and desert ore). Although they were originally released for $160, the cheapest you’ll find a pair on StockX is for a cool $628.
Background: Nike and Virgil Abloh have been hard at work following up the success of The Ten. In February, the two dropped the second round of Off-White Air Max 90s in two colorways (black and desert ore). Although they were originally released for $160, the cheapest you’ll find a pair on StockX is for a cool $628.
# 6
Adidas YZY 380 AlienRelease Date: Dec. 12, 2019
Background: Just missing the top five are the highly anticipated 380s. Kanye has been teasing fans with the introduction of the YZY 380 since early 2019, but he kept us all on our toes until the last month of the year for a public release.
This year Kanye donned the cover of Forbes, as it was reported his brand will eclipse $1.5 billion in sales in 2019. Check out the link below to watch a behind the scenes look at his creative process (and a sneak peek at thousands of his samples).
Click here for Forbes video
Background: Just missing the top five are the highly anticipated 380s. Kanye has been teasing fans with the introduction of the YZY 380 since early 2019, but he kept us all on our toes until the last month of the year for a public release.
This year Kanye donned the cover of Forbes, as it was reported his brand will eclipse $1.5 billion in sales in 2019. Check out the link below to watch a behind the scenes look at his creative process (and a sneak peek at thousands of his samples).
Click here for Forbes video
# 5
Nike x Fear of God Shoot AroundRelease Date: Jan. 19, 2019
Background: Jerry Lorenzo spoiled us this year with his Nike collections and the introduction of the double-stacked Zoom Air units. There’s no doubt about it. Along with the Fear of God 1s, Jerry also gave us the Shoot Arounds in two colorways. The shoes were designed for basketball warm-ups and incorporate the same traction, support and comfort of the FOG 1s, albeit not quite as court-ready.
Background: Jerry Lorenzo spoiled us this year with his Nike collections and the introduction of the double-stacked Zoom Air units. There’s no doubt about it. Along with the Fear of God 1s, Jerry also gave us the Shoot Arounds in two colorways. The shoes were designed for basketball warm-ups and incorporate the same traction, support and comfort of the FOG 1s, albeit not quite as court-ready.
# 4
Nike x ACW Vomero Zoom +5 “Solarized”Release Date: Jan. 30, 2019
Background: Unless you’re neck deep into the fashion/sneaker industries, you probably have no idea who Samuel Ross is. Ross got his start interning for Virgil Abloh back in 2012 after Virgil stumbled across his Instagram. Since then, he has launched his own brand and been crowned as Fashion Award’s British Emerging Menswear Designer of the year.
In his second collaboration with Nike, Samuel Ross put his own spin on the Nike Zoom Vomero. This one in particular is hand died in London so no two pairs are the same. These “solarized” editions are damn near impossible to get your hands on... unless you happen to be one of the 5 sizes available on StockX.
Background: Unless you’re neck deep into the fashion/sneaker industries, you probably have no idea who Samuel Ross is. Ross got his start interning for Virgil Abloh back in 2012 after Virgil stumbled across his Instagram. Since then, he has launched his own brand and been crowned as Fashion Award’s British Emerging Menswear Designer of the year.
In his second collaboration with Nike, Samuel Ross put his own spin on the Nike Zoom Vomero. This one in particular is hand died in London so no two pairs are the same. These “solarized” editions are damn near impossible to get your hands on... unless you happen to be one of the 5 sizes available on StockX.
# 3
Nike x A Ma Maniere collab (AF1 high & AF1 Low)
Release Date: Dec. 7, 2019
Background: Nike teamed up with the luxury boutique from Atlanta to put a new spin on a classic silhouette. The result was two versions of the Air Force 1 fashioned from premium materials including smoothened nubuck, supple leathers and buttery suedes, and utilizing a color palette of greys, dark blacks and iridescent finishes. If you live in a place like New York, where your entire wardrobe is different shades of black, these will quickly become your favorite pair of sneakers.
Background: Nike teamed up with the luxury boutique from Atlanta to put a new spin on a classic silhouette. The result was two versions of the Air Force 1 fashioned from premium materials including smoothened nubuck, supple leathers and buttery suedes, and utilizing a color palette of greys, dark blacks and iridescent finishes. If you live in a place like New York, where your entire wardrobe is different shades of black, these will quickly become your favorite pair of sneakers.
# 2
MSCHF x INRI x Nike Air Max 97Release Date: Oct. 8, 2019
Background: Brooklyn-based creative label MSCHF tapped into INRI to create a shoe that lets you walk on water... actually tho.
The shoe’s air unit is injected with 60cc of blessed holy water sourced from the River Jordan. And when you add with the Frankincense-infused red insoles and a golden crucifix, you have a pair of kicks worthy to be worn around the Vatican by our Jesuit Pope Francis.
Background: Brooklyn-based creative label MSCHF tapped into INRI to create a shoe that lets you walk on water... actually tho.
The shoe’s air unit is injected with 60cc of blessed holy water sourced from the River Jordan. And when you add with the Frankincense-infused red insoles and a golden crucifix, you have a pair of kicks worthy to be worn around the Vatican by our Jesuit Pope Francis.
# 1
Nike x Fear of God 1Release Date: Jan. 19, 2019 (light bone)
Background: Without further ado, the number one sneaker in 2019 is, without a doubt, the Air Fear of God 1.
Nike approached Jerry Lorenzo with the task of making performance basketball shoes cool again. And Jerry delivered by developing an entirely new silhouette - an opportunity rarely given for Nike’s creative partners outside of Beaverton.
There’s tons of great content circulating the web discussing Jerry’s creative process and how the Fear of God partnership transpired. If you’re interested, check out the links below.
- Exclusive look from Beaverton
- Conversation ft. John Mayer
- Business of HYPE podcast w/ Jeff Staple
Background: Without further ado, the number one sneaker in 2019 is, without a doubt, the Air Fear of God 1.
Nike approached Jerry Lorenzo with the task of making performance basketball shoes cool again. And Jerry delivered by developing an entirely new silhouette - an opportunity rarely given for Nike’s creative partners outside of Beaverton.
There’s tons of great content circulating the web discussing Jerry’s creative process and how the Fear of God partnership transpired. If you’re interested, check out the links below.
- Exclusive look from Beaverton
- Conversation ft. John Mayer
- Business of HYPE podcast w/ Jeff Staple
- BucksInSix