Nike Space Hippie Collection Brings Far-Out Style to This Week’s Best Footwear Drops
Alongside the KITH x Nike Air Force 1 “Tokyo,” Nike Dunk Low SP “University Red” and Pharrell x adidas Superstar.
You are reading your free article for this month.
Members-only
With June turning to July, the warm summer temperatures call for even more sweltering sneaker releases. As we cross the halfway mark of 2020, the world’s biggest footwear brands are preparing for the rest of the year with a varied slate of drops, ranging from shoes that are quite literally made of trash to conceptual lifestyle silhouettes and updated takes on classic hoop kicks. We’ve compiled the best of the best into one digestible list, but before we dive in let’s take a primer on last week’s news.
In the modern world of sneakers, there’s not a week that goes by without news on the collaborative front — but these last seven days were especially busy. Kanye West shook up the world of street culture with his #WestDayEver, part of which was a shock drop of the YEEZY Foam Runner. Earlier in the week, ‘Ye’s adidas YEEZY QNTM “Barium” saw a mass-market release, marking the QNTM silhouette’s full retail debut. West wasn’t the only Three Stripes partner to put forth collaborative product: British designer Craig Green teamed with adidas for an extensive collection, one that he discussed with HYPEBEAST in an exclusive interview. adidas Skateboarding had a moment in the sun as well, with Tyshawn Jones’ Fucking Awesome x adidas Tyshawn receiving an official look.
Nike and Jordan Brand were in the mix, of course. Virgil Abloh announced that he’d be raffling off a signed and personalized pair of the yet-to-release Off-White™ x Air Jordan 4 “Sail” to benefit The Black Curriculum, a UK-based organization. The raffle closed on Saturday, with a winning bid of $184,885.68 USD — or, in modern parlance, roughly 3,697 “Virgils.” After months of speculation and anticipation, Dior officially opened the raffle for its Air Jordan 1 High and Low collaborations, with winners set to be notified early July.
On the business and charitable front, news ran the gamut from negative to positive. The effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus finally caught up to Nike, with the Swoosh announcing a 38% drop in quarterly revenue, but a 75% increase in online sales. Elsewhere, Foot Locker joined the ever-expanding parade of companies pushing for social change by announcing a $200 million USD initiative to combat racial injustice.
Rounding things off were more collaborations and closer looks. Vetements and Reebok reunited for a staggeringly expensive ($760 USD) Instapump Fury, while Soulland and Li-Ning debuted two new running shoes for what was easily the most unexpected collaboration of the week. We were also given a detailed look at Nike’s Dunk Low SP “Champ Colors,” and the trippy, colorful Grateful Dead x Nike SB “Orange Bear.”
Look below to see a dozen of the week’s best releases, and please note that coronavirus-related delays are — as always — a possibility. For more upcoming footwear styles, be sure to head over to our Drops page as well.
Parley x adidas UltraBOOST DNA “Core Black” and “Cloud White”
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Release Date: June 29
Release Price: $220 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: Simultaneously sustainable and stylish, the Parley x adidas UltraBOOST DNA is set to hit retailers in both light and dark makeups. Both offer a simple single-colored upper and standard issue BOOST midsole, but add dashing details by way of Parley’s signature ocean plastic fabric, woven into the upper in wavy lines. They’re essentially the perfect shoe for those who want to look good, feel good and do good all at once.
Nike Dunk SP “University Red”
Heison Ho/Hypebeast
Heison Ho/Hypebeast
Heison Ho/Hypebeast
Release Date: July 1
Release Price: $100 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: The cleanest, most classic shoe you’ll see this week, Nike Sportswear’s Dunk Low SP “University Red” is here to round off the lauded “Team Tones” pack with its US release. Built of supple leather and supplying a simple — yet ever effective — red and white colorway, it’s a must-have for Dunk aficionados and NSW stans alike.
Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Big Stage”
Nice Kicks
Nice Kicks
Nice Kicks
Release Date: July 1
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: Nice Kicks
Why You Should Cop: Since Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing in January, Nike Basketball has largely shelved its slate of Kobe releases for 2020, save for some entry-level takedown models. Now, however, we may see the first full-fledged signature Kobe release of the year if the Kobe 5 Protro “Big Stage” does indeed release this week. Combining pieces of the classic “Big Stage” and “Parade” colorways, this modernized “Big Stage” is a masterful nod to the Mamba’s championship greatness, and is sure to delight his legions of loyal fans if it does in fact hit retailers on its reported date.
Nike Zoom Double Stacked “Barely Volt” & “Volt/Black”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: July 2
Release Price: $230 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: If “twice as nice” is an adage you abide by, the Nike Zoom Double Stacked just might be the shoe for you. Distilling race-ready Nike Running style into a stripped-back casual silhouette, the Zoom Double Stacked stays true to its name with a duo of layered Zoom units in its exposed heel and two more pucks side by side on its visible forefoot. Springy, supportive and undeniably striking, the Double Stacked reinterprets one of Nike’s signature cushioning technologies in undeniably appealing fashion.
Air Jordan 14 “Gym Red”
Titolo
Titolo
Titolo
Release Date: July 2
Release Price: $190 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS and Foot Locker
Why You Should Cop: Tinker Hatfield was inspired by high-performance sports cars when he originally designed the Air Jordan 14, so the Ferrari-esque “Gym Red” makeup is a fitting new style for the shoe Michael Jordan secured his sixth and final NBA Championship in. With smooth red nubuck uppers offset with pops of black and white, the “Gym Red” is a turbocharged take on an oft-underrated Air Jordan silhouette. It’s now hitting US retailers after a European drop in past weeks.
Craig Green x adidas Originals Collection
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Release Date: July 2
Release Price: $250-$300 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: British designer Craig Green and the Three Stripes are known for stacked, avant-garde collaborations. They’re furthering that ethos on their latest effort, which consists of fresh iterations of the Boston Super, Kamanda and Samba. Using translucent “ghost” shells, each shows off its inner workings but ensconces them in a striking outer layer, making for shoes that are just as much art piece as they are captivating everyday wearer.
Pyer Moss x Reebok Experiment 4 Fury Trail “Innocence Project”
Pyer Moss
Release Date: July 3
Release Price: $250 USD
Where to Buy: Pyer Moss
Why You Should Cop: Pyer Moss founder Kerby Jean-Raymond is not one to rest on his laurels when it comes to matters of social justice, so PM has leveraged its expansive partnership with Reebok for an exclusive Experiment 4 Trail Fury “Innocence Project.” As its name implies, the shoe supports the Innocence Project — a non-profit foundation that fights for criminal justice reform and aims to exonerate wrongfully convicted men and women through DNA evidence. Apart from its powerful, righteous cause, the “Innocence Project” also equips a crisp black and white palette with just enough pops of color.
Pharrell x adidas Superstar Collection
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Release Date: July 3
Release Price: $140 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: With a collaborative relationship spanning more than half a decade, Pharrell and adidas’s partnership is one of the most expansive artist/brand efforts in the world of footwear. Now, in entering its next chapter, it’s looking back to its roots with two new takes on the Superstar – the first shoe P and the Three Stripes ever worked on. With a knit build and quilt-like patchwork detailing, the shoes are whimsical, colorful and offer a design that can stand the test of time, much like the partnership that produced them has.
KANGHYUK x Reebok Premier Road Modern
Kanghyuk
Kanghyuk
Kanghyuk
Release Date: July 3
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: Dover Street Market London
Why You Should Cop: Drawing inspiration from car tires, KANGHYUK and Reebok’s Premier Road Modern is masterfully molded and subtly striking thanks to its tonal, all-black build. It’s been teased since the beginning of the year, but is set for an exclusive release at Dover Street Market London. The second car-themed collaboration between Korean fashion brand and American footwear company, the Road Modern furthers the duo’s co-crafted design ethos in potent fashion.
Nike Space Hippie Collection
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: July 3
Release Price: $130-$180 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Nike’s Space Hippie collection is trash. Literally. Built largely from recycled factory scraps, the Space Hippie 01, 02, 03, and 04 ensure that no excess material goes to waste with their knit uppers, and even repurpose old rubber with their flecked, speckled NikeGrind midsoles. There’s a style for everyone here too: the 01 and 04 offer a somewhat classic look with recognizable athletic shoe shapes and accents, while the 02 offers a laceless, sock-like upper that rises above the ankle. The most interesting of the bunch, however, just might be the 03 thanks to its high-cut build and highly technical FlyEase lacing system.
Nice Kicks x Reebok Question Mid “Bubba Chuck”
Nice Kicks
Nice Kicks
Nice Kicks
Release Date: July 3
Release Price: $160 USD
Where to Buy: Nice Kicks
Why You Should Cop: Playing off of Allen Iverson’s childhood nickname and lifelong love of fishing, Nice Kicks and Reebok have teamed up for a Question Mid “Bubba Chuck.” Awash in bright accents inspired by ’90s outdoors gear and featuring lure-inspired glow in the dark detailing, the “Bubba Chuck” is a thorough acknowledgement of the Answer’s favorite off-court pastime. It’s set to debut exclusively at Nice Kicks this week and will see a global release next week, at which point you’ll likely see it on this list once again.
KITH x Nike Air Force 1 “Tokyo”
Kith
Release Date: July 4
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: KITH Tokyo (in-store only)
Why You Should Cop: After almost a decade in the game, KITH has worked with a multitude of footwear companies on a cornucopia of compelling collaborations. Now, the New York-based brand is adding another notch to its ever-expanding belt with the release of its first Air Force 1 (we’re not counting the 2019 pair, as it was friends and family only and not made available to the public save for a single charity raffle). Aiming to contrast New York and Tokyo through their shared love of the Air Force 1, founder Ronnie Fieg has opted for a simple-yet-effective mix of white, sail and red. This base is embellished with KITH-centric details like a deposed logo print on the Swooshes plus special branding on tongues and heels. You’ll have to be in Shibuya if you want to secure a pair though: they’re releasing exclusively at the KITH Tokyo grand opening.
