The best sneaker collaborations of 2018
Lyrical
February 02, 2019
Sneaker collaborations are what we look forward to most and, these are the biggest and best collabs to have landed in 2018.
Sneaker collaborations are all the rage. They’re the cause of slow Wi-Fi, ‘Sold Out’ stamps, and in-store brawls that flood onto the street. They are what we look forward to most, brawls excepted.
Whilst collabs are nothing new, brands have become increasingly more strategic and are careful not to saturate the market and risk their products losing meaning. Instead, they’ve opted for quality over quantity, making limited-edition drops something to be cherished.
2018 has seen some sensational collaborations but it’s a space Nike continues to dominate. Working with some of the biggest names like Virgil Abloh, Comme des Garcons and Kith, each collaboration is a revelation and always seems to surpass the hype.
We’re halfway through the year and although there will certainly be some big drops planned for the remainder, here is our round-up of the biggest and best sneaker collabs to have landed so far.
Sean Wotherspoon x Nike Air Max 1/97
It came out to some mixed reviews, but there’s no denying that Wotherspoon has designed one of the greatest sneakers of 2018. After winning the Vote Forward competition during last year’s Air Max Day, where a handful of global designers got to create their own dream Air Max model, Wotherspoon took an Air Max 97 upper and put an Air Max 1 sole unit on it. It’s a relatively simple idea, but sometimes that’s all it takes to create something effective. With an upper inspired by corduroy Nike hats from the ’80s, the shoe caught instant hype.
Kiko Kostadinov x ASICS GEL-BURZ 1
Merging elements from the brand’s GEL-NIMBUS 20 and GEL-VENTURE 6, Kostadinov’s take on the GEL-BURZ arrived in a trio of colourways. Sneakerheads were instantly frothing over this model, however the design is one of pure performance. It features proprietary ASICS technology like FlyteFoam, and GEL cushioning throughout.
Atmos x Nike Air Max 1 “Animal Pack”
Cast your minds back to 2007 when all-over print hoodies and outrageously coloured sneakers were in vogue. One of the greatest sneakers to emerge during this time was the Atmos x Air Max 1 “Animal Pack” which was, surprisingly, underrated. Slightly absurd, colourful, it had all the trappings of the time in which it was designed.
Much like a fine wine though, this sneaker aged well and when Nike and Atmos brought it back, it was snapped up quickly.
Virgil Abloh x Converse Chuck Taylor
Abloh has stamped his name on everything, it seems. Capping off the original “The Ten” offering, was the release of his translucent Converse Chuck Taylor, which initially was pushed back a few months due to small changes made to the design. In keeping with Abloh’s ethos, it didn’t go to sale until absolute perfection was achieved.
Comme des Garcons x Nike Air 180
Released in three different flavours, the high-fashion feel of these sneakers is evident no matter what pink colourway you fancy. Made for the slightly more daring and fashion-conscious sneakerhead, the 180 shines as one of the best collabs of the year.
Dior Homme B22
If there’s one trend that has defined 2018, it’s the chunky sneaker trend. Since its inception, a number of luxury brands have weighed in with their own versions, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and others.
Created by Dior Homme’s Kris Van Assche, the B22 silhouette is perhaps the most balanced example of the chunky sneaker, featuring exaggerated proportions that find harmony with the shoe’s sporty aesthetic. With rope laces, well-appointed colour blocking and a subtle Dior Homme badge that round out the look, this sneaker is the perfect fusion of streetwear and high-fashion.
Nike Air Max 98 “Gundam”
The Air Max 98 seemed to have fallen off our radars until a sudden, and somewhat mysterious, return brought about by a Supreme collab back in 2016. Since then, new colourways have filled the shelves and 2018 gifted us with the “Gundam” colourway.
A nod to the RX-78-2 from the popular Gundam sci-fi series, it features a blue and white upper with red details and even includes a red full-length air unit. This colourway is perfectly suited to the vintage ’90s silhouette and not surprisingly, has proved a huge hit.
Kith x Nike LeBron 15 pt. 2
The King’s signature line was in need of a revival. The brand had grown stale with sales starting to slump over the past few seasons. Thankfully, the genius that is Ronnie Fieg got behind the brand with a premium take on the LeBron 15, giving it added credibility as well as a casual silhouette that the line had been lacking.
The first part of the “Long Live the King” collection debuted at the tail end of 2017, but it wasn’t until the second drop that people really started paying attention. Released during the 2018 NBA All Star Weekend in celebration of the Kith L.A. flagship, the silhouettes were an instant hit. Black and white versions of each were adorned with floral patterns and accompanied by matching apparel that acted as a tribute to the nickname of the greatest basketball player on the planet.
Levi’s x Air Jordan IV
Back in 2008, Jordan Brand and Levi’s united to create a collaboration. The result was a limited run of 2,323 packs that included an eye-catching Air Jordan 1 Mid constructed of red leather and elephant print denim, matching pair of Levi’s 501 jeans, and a T-shirt.
Ten years later and the two classic brands linked up once again to create one stellar shoe using the Air Jordan IV. First worn by Travis Scott, the denim-covered IV with Levi’s inspired hits like a red tag on the upper were sold out almost instantly. In fact, the NYPD even had to shut down the drop at the Levi’s store in SoHo because of the chaotic turn out.
Pharrell/N* E*R*D* x adidas NMD Hu
They stole the show with the revamped adidas NMD, which stands for nomad. The new sneaker style by adidas features footwear that combines old design concepts with new technology, particularly Primeknit and Boost cushioning. Currently, it’s one of the most popular running shoes on the market.
Kendrick Lamar x Nike Cortez
Featuring the Cortez’s original mesh upper, Chinese characters to riff Lamar’s “Kung-Fu Kenny” nickname, and mantras written down the middle such as “Don’t trip” and “Bet it back,” this shoe has proved insanely popular. Many herald this sneaker as the perfect twist on a perfect sneaker by one of – if not the – best rappers out right now.
Acronym x Nike Air VaporMax
Errolson Hugh’s technical and futuristic designs have allowed for some interesting collaborations between the Acronym designer and Nike. In 2017, Nike enlisted Hugh to design the revival of the ACG line. Following up on his Lunar Force 1s and Air Prestos collabs, Hugh released his version of the Air VaporMax Moc 2.
The slip-on runner equipped with Nike’s VaporMax cushioning came in black, white, and grey camouflage prints with hits of neon green and infrared.
Off-White x Nike
Virgil Abloh is proving unstoppable. Before his appointment as Louis Vuitton’s new men’s artistic director, Abloh turned the sneaker world upside down with his “The Ten” collection with Nike, which was widely considered the best drop of 2017. And in 2018, he showed no signs of slowing down with more new stylings of his re-imagined Nike silhouettes complete with their signature “BRANDING” and red zip ties.
The European-exclusive “White” and “UNC” variations of his Air Jordan I might have been the most notable, but he also delivered black and white takes on the Air VaporMax.
Pyer Moss x Reebok DMX Fusion 10
NYC-based fashion label Pyer Moss teamed up with Reebok to create a modernised version of the brand’s iconic DMX Run 10 silhouette. The blacked out version of the futuristic silhouette still harks back to models that helped shape the sneaker brand’s past.
Its sock-like ankle collar allows for incredibly easy slip-on access while its oblong sole unit creates ultimate comfort and durability the likes of other past Reebok heritage classics.
The Broken Arm x Salomon XT-4
It might not be your high-fashion shoe, but this sneaker is all about performance and function. Parisian boutique The Broken Arm and performance outerwear brand Salomon re-worked the trail-ready XT-4 in a fashion-friendly gradient colourway.
The XT-4 keeps all its performance utility via a quick-lace closure and aggressive outerwear tread. The duo started their collab back in 2015, when the crossover between a curated boutique and a performance mountaineering brand was kind of unheard of. Now, this collab has cemented itself as one of the most progressive in the industry.
Supreme x Nike Sneaker Air Streak Spectrum Plus
Supreme dug deep into the Nike archives for this one. Introducing the Air Streak Spectrum Plus, a vintage racing shoe featuring a fire graphic motif across the upper. The shoe will be released in its original white and red colourway, along with a new version in black with lime and blue flames. Both colourways are expected to drop June 14 exclusively at Supreme.
YCMC x New Balance 990v4 “Benjamin Bread”
We never thought we’d say it, but the dad shoe trend is in. Thanks to the seas of change in fashion, this meant that the New Balance 990v4 finally got its time in the sun. Whilst it never meant to be ironically cool, people are definitely paying attention.
With its ‘Made in USA’ runner-shoe feel, the buttery suede is designed for suburban dads. Even now, as it becomes increasingly popular with the fashion crowd, New Balance isn’t marketing the shoe as such. Instead, as their collab with DMV retailer YCMC proves, the sneaker’s design is true to its roots. The New Balance 990 was the first sneaker retailed for $100 so this one, aptly named “Benjamin Bread” was made to look like a $100 note. Clever.
Travis Scott x Air Jordan IV
Take the coolest rapper in the game and give him a shoe canvas to work with, especially one of the greatest Air Jordans of all-time. Jordan Brand paid homage to Scott’s hometown, Houston, with a colour scheme that takes inspiration from the Houston Oilers. The backstory to design is impressive, but even without it this is a solid, good-looking sneaker.
The best sneaker collaborations of 2018
Reviewed by Lyrical
on
February 02, 2019
Rating:
Reviewed by Lyrical
on
February 02, 2019
Rating:
