We’re halfway through 2016, and it’s time to take a look at some of the most memorable sneaker releases of the year so far.
It’s no surprise that Nike and adidas dominate our midyear rankings, more specifically NikeLab and adidas Originals, two divisions that have been showing strength over the last six months. For Nike, footwear partnerships with Supreme and Olivier Rousteing made headlines in a big way, while Jordan has also ushered in new collaborations with OVO and Don C, supplemented by a string of strong retros that included XIIs and IVs.
At the same time, adidas has been causing mayhem with every NMD release, the Ultra Boost is remaining in-demand (we even made our own version) and just this month a third YEEZY Boost 750 colorway finally arrived.
Standout womens’ offerings have been offered up by Naked in collaboration with Reebok, as well as Rihanna who stamped her name on the PUMA Creeper, a flip of the brand’s popular Suede model.
To see Highsnobiety’s best 30 sneakers of the year so far* in no particular order, hit the jump below.
*Editor’s Note: the 2016 YEEZY Boost 350 “Pirate Black” re-stock was excluded from this list.
Nice Kicks x adidas Consortium NMD R1 PK
To date, this is the only collaborative version of the almighty NMD that we’ve seen from adidas, although we have reason to believe that more are on the way. The Nicks Kicks NMD fell under adidas’ Consortium banner, standing out from other NMD drops thanks to its sublimated red and black tie-dye upper, inspired by vintage concert posters and local art from Austin, Texas, the home of Nice Kicks. The collaborative NMD also featured a Nice Kicks-branded heel tab.
NikeLab Air Force 1 Mid “Vachetta Tan”
The brand with the Swoosh wasn’t about to sleep on the naturally tanned leather craze, and made sure to throw their hat in the ring with this NikeLab Air Force 1 Mid “Vachetta Tan.” Not the only Vachetta execution we’ve seen from Nike, but certainly one of the best. The soft palette combined with a classic silhouette definitely hit home for many sneakerheads, especially the female demographic.
Supreme x NikeLab Air Max 98
When images of this project first leaked, many were doubting their legitimacy, but Supreme officially released four versions of this obscure Air Max family member in late April. The quartet included a blacked-out version, a navy blue version, a red version as a nod to Supreme’s famous box logo, and the highlight of the release – a snake pattern edition that you’ve probably spotted in more than one street style gallery on Highsnobiety.
Rihanna x PUMA Creeper
In late 2015, Rihanna added a platform sole to PUMA’s iconic Suede, creating the new, so-called Creeper silhouette for girls. Later in May 2016, the collaboration was reprised with another round of colorways, featuring two tonal black and white versions, as well as a Gucci-inspired makeup. Although this updated sneaker is strong enough to stand alone as a general release, the extra endorsement from Rihanna made the Creeper a must-cop for many.
Nike Air Jordan 1 Low “No Swoosh”
For this release, Nike did what many would consider the unthinkable, de-Swooshing the Air Jordan 1 Low. Many sneaker fans might concede, it’s not as drastic as a Swooshless Air Jordan 1 High, but nonetheless, this release testified heavily in favor of the luxe-minimal sneaker movement. These were further lofted up by engraved metal lace and a low-key embossed “Wings” logo on the heel.
Solebox x adidas Consortium Ultra Boost Uncaged
As part of the Consortium World Tour, adidas and Berlin’s Solebox came together for an all-German release, cooking up one of the earliest Uncaged Ultra Boost models. The resulting shoe featured a Primeknit upper in several shades of grey, and flashes of red on the outsole and insole. As with most Solebox collaborations, this particular Hikmet Sugoer-designed Ultra Boost was an instant hit, going on to garner noteworthy profits on the resell market.
Nike Air Max LD-Zero H
For Air Max Day 2016, Nike and Hiroshi Fujiwara unveiled the Air Max LD-Zero H. Expanding on the always-popular HTM series, for the fist time Fujiwara was allowed to create his own Air Max variation for the annual sneaker holiday, which re-imagines the upper from Nike’s vintage Boston silhouette, paired with the Air Max 2014 bubble platform. Returning to navy blue (often his colorway of choice), Fujiwara noted “I wanted to create something that would resonate with people who are interested in classic styles.”
Nike Air Presto Ultra Flyknit
What Nike describes as a “T-shirt for the foot,” the Air Presto was originally released back in 2000, and this year, the Beaverton camp presented a new spin on the silhouette, bringing us the Air Presto Ultra Flyknit. The update includes an adaptable Flyknit upper and mid-top cut, rounding out this timely, summer-ready release.
Naked CPH x Reebok Club C “Daze”
Copenhagen’s female-dedicated sneaker outpost Naked has been around for over a decade, since 2004. In its time, the shop has cooked up more than just one bangin’ sneaker collabo, but this year’s Reebok Club C “Daze” may have trumped them all. The sneaker was done up with an unmistakable off-white calf-hair upper, with debossed Reebok and Naked branding on the heel. We’re holding our breath for more from Naked.
Gosha Rubchinskiy x Reebok Phase One Pro
Moscow designer Gosha Rubchinskiy lent his eye and distinctive cyrillic lettering to Reebok’s Phase One Pro sneaker, which was recreated in white, black and slate grey colorways. Gosha’s instantly recognizable branding appeared in bright text on the heel, while a total of three colorways were made available in black, white and grey.
Nike Air More Uptempo
This Scottie Pippen favorite – 1996’s Nike Air More Uptempo -made a reappearance this year in its original colorway, as well as several new color schemes for the modern sneakerhead. Despite the retro basketball shoe’s chunky, aging look, many embraced the 2016 re-issue. The shoe’s overstated “AIR” branding is a reference to the aesthetics of ’90s graffiti and pop art.
Concepts x Nike Free Trainer 1.0 “Thermal”
In January, Concepts collaborated with Nike on the Free Trainer 1.0, a newly developed training shoe honed on providing the feeling of barefoot running. The shoe’s tongue was constructed from a thermal reactive material that changes color to match the shoe’s upper when heated up, while a clean white midsole acted to nicely juxtapose the multicolor design. Definitely one of Concepts most original collaborations in recent memory.
Concepts x New Balance “City” Pack
Concepts “City” pack with fellow Bostonians New Balance was an homage to one of baseball’s most notorious rivalries between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Rox. The pack included a New York-edition 997 silhouette offered in teal premium suede, alongside a Boston-edition 998 in rust red and green suede as a homage to the clay baseball diamonds around the league.
BAIT x Diadora N9000 “Notti Veneziane”
It’s difficult to ignore the appeal of Diadora’s made-in-Italy offerings, and this year, BAIT’s take on the N.9000 silhouette was a prime example. Inspired by the famous carnival costumes and masks of Venice, the duo’s first ever partnership was dubbed the “Notti Veneziane,” featuring textured violet leather panels matched by hits of richly colored blue and green leather.
fragment design x Converse One Star ’74
In March, Hiroshi Fujiwara of fragment design presented his own take on the Converse’s skateboarding classic, the One Star. Playing off of Converse’s hairy suede motif, Fujiwara served up petrol blue and off-white versions, complete with fragment’s thunderbolt branding on the heel. Simplicity at its best.
Ronnie Fieg x ASICS GEL-Lyte 3.1 “Super Green”
2016’s Ronnie Fieg x ASICS GEL-Lyte 3.1 was a surprise inclusion that accompanied the standard GEL-Lyte III “Super Green,”, which was originally treated to a low-key 2013 release with proceeds going to charity. The all-new 3.1 was arguably the most interesting of the two, and a one-day-only installation was set up at KITH’s SoHo location for the occasion.
adidas Climacool 1
This year adidas reached back to the early 2000s to revitalise the Climacool 1. At the time, the Climacool was one of the first adidas models to play with a ventilated upper, a feature that was carried over into 2016. The techy new version was released in a series of tonal colorways, and the launch was even celebrated with a special Coca-Cola colorway.
Air Jordan X Retro “OVO”
As a card-carrying member of team Jumpman, Drake was given the opportunity to make-over the Air Jordan X in an off-white colorway wth OVO branding in Septemer 2015. For 2016, Drizzy served up a blacked-out version of the same silhouette, much to the excitement of 6God fans. Plus, it seems like an OVO-edition Jordan XII could also be on the way soon.
Air Jordan XII Retro “Flu Game”
While there doesn’t seem to be a real consensus on whether MJ actually had the flu that historic night, this particular colorway of the Jordan XII still retains its place in the books, thanks to Jordan’s 38-point performance during Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. The black and red “Flu Game” colorway was a nicely timed addition to an already strong year for the Jordan XII.
adidas Originals YEEZY Boost 750 “Grey/Gum”
After a considerable amount of rumors and speculation – as has become standard leading up to every YEEZY drop – the third 750 iteration from Kanye West and adidas Originals arrived on June 11. Setting it apart from the previous two 750s, the “Grey/Gum” version featured a luminescent outsole, in addition to a grey upper saddled on top. You already know the bots ate this one up within seconds.
adidas Ultra Boost “Triple White”
Since being spotted on the feet of Kanye West during several live performances last year, this smash-hit and leader of the Ultra Boost category has actually been treated to three slightly different “Triple White” drops. A steady demand for the whited-out colorway has allowed this sneaker to sell out time after time, helping to make the Ultra Boost one of adidas’ most esteemed silhouettes. This latest 2016 version featured small tweaks like adjustments to the knitted upper, and different shades of grey on the toe box.
Raised by Wolves x Off The Hook x Vans Sk8-Hi
Both operating out of Montreal, menswear brand Raised by Wolves and retailer Off The Hook worked with Vans to beef up the Sk8-Hi silhouette with winterized details. Released in February as a pack that included a winterized Old Skool as well, both shoes in the pack were outfitted with water-resistant Scotchguard technology, sealed zippers and gusseted tongues to keep moisture out.
adidas NMD R1 Vintage White
Playing off the popularity of adidas’ all-white Ultra Boost, the “Vintage White” NMD release constituted a clean addition to the NMD catalog. Although adidas has unwrapped quite a few likeable NMD colorways, these were among the strongest and most well-received. Featuring a Primeknit upper and Boost outsole completed with the NMD’s signature sole plugs in tonal white, we can picture ourselves rocking these all summer ’16.
Air Jordan IV Retro “Cement”
Thanks in part to its infamous cameo in Spike Lee’s 1989 cult favorite Do The Right Thing, the “Cement” Air Jordan IV has earned its place in the Jordan chronicles. Originally released the same year as the film, the “Cement” IVs are one of the most beloved in the Jumpman franchise, and 2016’s release was only the third in the history of this particular colorway, following the initial release, and one in 1999.
Reigning Champ x ASICS GEL-Lyte III
Reigning Champ’s second-ever footwear collaboration was unveiled this year, arriving as a partnership with ASICS. Navy, grey and black versions of the GEL-Lyte III were conceived as a reference to Reigning Champ’s core color palette, while flatlock seams and midweight terry uppers also call back to the design language of the Vancouver brand’s Canadian-made basics.
Just Don x Jordan II Retro “Beach”
Don C once again linked up with the folks at Jumpman to re-imagine the Jordan II. Originally crafted in Italy, the II made its debut in 1987, bringing luxury to the basketball court for the first time. While Don’s first collaboration with Jordan brought us a fully tonal blue II with quilted detailing, this time around the Chicago-born streetwear visionary presented the same silhouette in a “Beach” colorway.
Nike Kobe XI “Black Mamba”
Of the 13 different styles included in Nike’s ” Black Mamba” pack, which honored the legendary Kobe Bryant, it’s hard to justify highlighting just one. Hard stats show us that the most sought after sneaker in the pack, as well as the fourth most valuable sneaker of 2016 Q1 was the Kobe 1. But Bryant laced up a pair of “Black Mamba” XIs for his last time donning Lakers colors, and the nostalgia factor here is too hard to overlook.
NikeLab Air Max 1 Royal
The originator of the Air Max franchise has been treated to a fair share of remixes in its day. But while past revisions have been hit or miss, the Air Max 1 Royal was a sight for sore eyes. Nike again adopts a luxe, minimal-tilt for the release, which coincided with Air Max day 2016, and although Nike is still testing the waters in this department, we like what we see so far.
adidas Y-3 Pure BOOST ZG
Largely eclipsed by adidas’ Boost-equipped sneakers like the Ultra Boost and NMD, the Y-3 Pure BOOST ZG was a bit of a sleeper hit, but certainly a favorite in the Highsnobiety offices. The Prue Boost ZG features a familiar mix of Boost and Primeknit technology, lensed through Yohji Yamamoto’s preference for black and white aesthetics.
Highsnobiety x adidas Consortium Ultra Boost
Just so you don’t forget what site you’re reading… Highsnobiety’s #HSDecade 10th birthday celebrations continued into 2016 with several key collaborative drops, including this limited issue of one of adidas’ most celebrated models at the moment – the Ultra Boost. Our version came with a soft taupe knitted upper in lavender grey, with a leather cage and branded tab on the sneaker’s tongue.
-
Main & Featured Images:
43einhalb -
Nice Kicks x adidas Consortium NMD R1 PK:
Nice Kicks -
NikeLab Air Force 1 Mid “Vachetta Tan”:
Girl On Kicks -
Supreme x NikeLab Air Max 98:
Asia Typek -
Rihanna x PUMA Creeper:
Titolo -
Nike Air Jordan 1 Low “No Swoosh”:
Social Status -
Solebox x adidas Consortium Ultra Boost Uncaged:
Solebox -
Nike Air Max LD-Zero H:
Nigra Mercato -
Nike Air Presto Ultra Flyknit:
Foot District -
Naked CPH x Reebok Club C “Daze”:
Naked CPH -
Gosha Rubchinskiy x Reebok Phase One Pro:
Asia Typek -
Nike Air More Uptempo:
Nuno Andrade -
Concepts x Nike Free Trainer 1.0 “Thermal”:
Concepts -
Concepts x New Balance “City” Pack:
Concepts -
BAIT x Diadora N9000 “Notti Veneziane”:
BAIT -
fragment design x Converse One Star ’74:
Converse -
Ronnie Fieg x ASICS GEL-Lyte 3.1 “Super Green”:
KITH -
adidas Climacool 1:
43einhalb -
Air Jordan X Retro “OVO”:
Nice Kicks -
Air Jordan XII Retro “Flu Game”:
KicksOnFire -
adidas Originals YEEZY Boost 750 “Grey/Gum”:
Solebox -
adidas Ultra Boost “Triple White”:
Kaiweiwaiwei -
adidas NMD R1 Vintage White:
adidas -
Air Jordan IV Retro”Cement”:
Wish ATL -
Raised by Wolves x Off The Hook x Vans Sk8-Hi LX & Old Skool Zip LX:
Raised by Wolves -
Reigning Champ x ASICS GEL-Lyte III:
Highsnobiety -
Just Don x Jordan II Retro “Beach”:
Wish ATL -
Nike Kobe XI “Black Mamba”:
Nike -
NikeLab Air Max 1 Royal:
KITH -
adidas Y-3 Pure BOOST ZG:
Asphaltgold -
Highsnobiety x adidas Consortium Ultra Boost:
Highsnobiety