The Devil Wears Prada (x adidas Superstars) in This Week's Best Footwear Drops
Alongside two versions of the adidas YEEZY BOOST 380 “Pepper,” the Nike Dunk “Community Garden” and more.
Happy post-holiday weekend, HYPEBEAST footwear family. We’re coming to you with this week’s best footwear drops a day later than usual to allot for Labor Day — and you can expect future installments of this list to arrive on Tuesdays as well. adidas and Nike are going head-to-head this week with New Balance joining in on the festivities too, but before we get into this week’s best releases let’s take a quick look back to last week first.
If there’s anyone more esteemed than Hiroshi Fujiwara in the world of footwear collaboration, we’ve yet to find them. The fragment design founder and Japanese streetwear godfather had a hand in three Jordan Brand collabs — an Air Jordan 35, Air Jordan 3 and the new Cadence — each of which sent fragment fanatics and Jumpman stans alike into a frenzy. Manilla’s TITAN got in on the news with a Philippines-centric Air Jordan 23, while Bloody Osiris showed off an unreleased Travis Scott x Air Jordan 6. We were also given a detailed look at the friends and family-only Air Jordan 4 “Green Laser,” a special style that’s limited to a mere 68 pairs. Rounding off the Jordan options was the speedy Air Jordan 14 “Hyper Royal.”
Moving from the Jumpman to the Three Stripes, adidas looked to a galaxy far, far away for four Star Wars collaborations: a Princess Leia UltraBOOST, a Han Solo ZX 2K BOOST, a Darth Vader Superstar and a C3PO Top Ten Hi. The A-ZX line also continued its rollout with a playful LEGO ZX 8000, and Derrick Rose’s signature line entered a new chapter with the D Rose 11. On the business front, adidas bid adieu to powerful adidas YEEZY GM and longtime Entertainment and Influencer Marketing leader Jon Wexler, who left to take a position at Shopify.
Over at Nike, we were given a first look at the Dunk High “Varsity Maize” ahead of its return this holiday season. Dunks of the SB persuasion were present as well, thanks to the arrival of the robot cat-inspired SB Dunk High “Doraemon.” The Air Max 95 “Freddy Kruger” did its best impersonation of a legendary unreleased SB Dunk Low, and the League of Legends x Nike footwear and apparel collection gave the wildly popular game a moment in the physical realm.
Wrapping things up were some questionable sneaker/boot hybrids from Virgil Abloh’s Louis Vuitton SS21 runway show, a tease of A-COLD-WALL* and Converse’s new collaboration and the J. Cole x PUMA RS-Dreamer in a Super Mario 64-inspired makeup.
All caught up? Good. Let’s dive into a dozen of this week’s best drops. Note that dates could be pushed back due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus, and check out HYPEBEAST’s Trading Post for more upcoming product.
Prada x adidas Superstar Collection
Release Date: September 8
Release Price: $500 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: Although 2006’s classic film with Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep may tell you otherwise, it’s not just the devil who wears Prada: it’s adidas Superstar lovers as well. Consisting of three Superstar colorways — familiar white/black and all black alongside a new silver/white — this latest project between high fashion house and powerful brand brings high-end Italian luxury down to earth with one of the most recognizable footwear silhouettes of all time.
Nike Dunk Low “Community Garden”
Release Date: September 10
Release Price: $100 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: The wild, free-flowing nature of a community garden is what makes it beautiful, so Nike has taken that open-minded ethos to heart on its new Dunk Low “Community Garden.” With a perfectly imperfect textile build and wide variety of patchwork patterns, the “Community Garden” shows that shoes don’t have to be “perfect” to be beautiful — it’s more about what they stand for.
Cactus Plant Flea Market x Nike Air Force 1
Release Date: September 10
Release Price: $130 USD
Where to Buy: Nike
Why You Should Cop: You could make a strong case for Cactus Plant Flea Market as Nike’s most interesting collaborative partner of 2019, and now the Cynthia Lu-helmed brand is set to keep things rolling in the latter half of 2020 with a “new” Air Force 1 collaboration. Essentially an all-white version of the previously-released Nike By You style, these Forces are equipped with Uptempo-style branding that spells out “Sunshine” and is rimmed with reflective trim, making for a happy hybrid of two Swoosh classics. The release date has yet to be officially confirmed, but all signs point toward an arrival on September 10.
Ninja x adidas Originals Nite Jogger
Release Date: September 10
Release Price: €149 EUR (approximately $177 USD)
Where to Buy: adidas, Foot Locker and Asphalt Gold
Why You Should Cop: Famed streamer Richard Tyler “Ninja” Blevens may be an unlikely collaborative partner at first glance, but the blue-haired Fortnite legend is already on his third adidas collaboration — this Nite Jogger. Dressed in black with a yin and yang of blue (left shoe) and pink (right shoe) accents, Ninja’s Nite Joggers bring streaming style out of the digital world and into the physical one.
Nike ISPA OverReact “Shadowberry”
Release Date: September 10
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: The Overreact kicked off Nike ISPA’s Fall 2020 lineup when it debuted in July, and now it’s back for the cooler months with a new “Shadowberry” makeup. An elegant-yet-sporty blend of rich red and stark black, the OverReact is all about comfort with a sock-like Flyknit upper and a thick React midsole that sits directly under the wearer’s foot for maximum cushy feel.
DeadHYPE x adidas ZX 8000
Release Date: September 11
Release Price: $105 USD
Where to Buy: adidas and END.
Why You Should Cop: adidas Originals’ 26-shoe A-ZX line is keeping the pressure on with near-weekly releases, and the latest part of this expansive rollout is new DeadHYPE x ZX 8000 collaboration. Mixing pastels and purples atop a leather and nubuck base while removing the signature Three Stripe graphic, this ZX 8000 offers a clean look with its Thanos-style color palette.
Air Jordan 1 High Zoom “Crater,” Jordan Crater and Jordan Crater Slide
Release Date: September 11
Release Price: $175 USD (AJ1)/$150 USD (Crater)/TBC (Crater Slide)
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Joining Nike, Inc’s push towards sustainability, Jordan Brand has presented a three-shoe “Crater” pack. Made up of a stripped-back Air Jordan 1 High Zoom, the new — and aptly-named — Air Jordan 1 Crater and a Suicoke-like Crater Slide, all three shoes take on a dark heather grey tone with scarcely-placed red accents, and are built from recycled polyester uppers that sit atop NikeGrind midsoles.
New Balance TDS Niobium Concept 1
Release Date: September 12
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: New Balance Tokyo Design Studio
Why You Should Cop: Remember the convertible cargo pants you rocked as a middle schooler? New Balance’s Tokyo Design Studio has created the footwear version with its TDS Niobium Concept 1. With just a simple zip of the rugged, hiking-style sneaker’s upper you can go from high-top to mule, from the trail to the streets. Thanks to a durable 801-style midsole, you’ll be covered on traction and comfort no matter what up top option strikes your fancy.
Air Jordan 5 “Apple Green/Oregon”
Release Date: September 12
Release Price: $225 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS and Foot Locker
Why You Should Cop: Unless you’ve got a friend at the University of Oregon or some really, really deep pockets, you probably won’t be able to get your hands on the memorable Air Jordan 5 “Oregon” PE from 2014. However, the Air Jordan 5 “Apple Green” is a more than acceptable substitute. Although the Ducks branding may be removed in favor of more standard Air Jordan hits, the color scheme is exactly the same — so you can show your U of O pride without breaking the bank.
Nike Air Max Plus “Metallic Gold”
Release Date: September 12
Release Price: $160 USD
Where to Buy: Foot Locker
Why You Should Cop: Seen in 2017 and again in 2018, Nike’s Air Max Plus “Metallic Gold” is back for a third go-around in 2020. Taking one of the Air Max 97’s most famous colorways and applying it to the equally-beloved Plus silhouette, the Air Max Plus “Metallic Gold” is a first-place choice for any aspiring roadman, and it’s set to release exclusively at stores under the greater Foot Locker umbrella.
adidas YEEZY BOOST 380 “Pepper” and “Pepper RF”
Release Date: September 12 (“Pepper”)/September 13 (“Pepper RF”)
Release Price: $230 USD (Non-Reflective”/$250 USD (Reflective)
Where to Buy: adidas, YEEZY Supply and END.
Why You Should Cop: `A spicy new style for one of Kanye West’s latest silhouettes, the adidas YEEZY BOOST 380 “Pepper” mixes a “Mist”-style midfoot slash with a new tan and white base for a palette that strikes a perfect balance between summer and fall. If you’d like to blend in — as much as you can while wearing YEEZYs, at least — there’s a non-reflective version. If you’re feeling flashy and fabulous, there’s a reflective iteration as well. This week marks the global “Pepper” release, while next week will see its US arrival, and you’ll likely catch it on our list again then.
Nike Air Max 1 ‘Hyper Pink”
Release Date: September 12
Release Price: $150 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Evoking the world of ’90s watersports in both tone and materials, the Nike Air Max 1 “Hyper Pink” is a colorful homage to a bygone era. Practically screaming summer, it may be inspired by the sea — but its vibrant build is undeniably ideal for landlubbers of all types.