New Balance's "Conversations Amongst Us" 550 and 2002Rs Lead This Week's Best Footwear Drops
Tyga’s MSCHF “Wavy Baby” collab, along with the Dover Street Market New Balance Made in UK 991 and more are also launching.
Major events such as the return of Coachella for the first time since the pandemic hit along with the start of the NBA playoffs are going down this week, and to make things that much sweeter, notable footwear brands have readied a captivating batch of new releases. We’re going to witness brands such as Nike, Converse, Crocs and more drop off some striking offerings, but before we tap into those let’s get you caught up on last week’s action.
HYPEBEAST‘s Sole Mates franchise expanded with a new feature as per usual, this time shining a light on Bottom Bunk’s Cole Richman to discuss his relationship with the Air Jordan 1 “Smoke Grey.” On the news front, Jordan Brand officially unveiled the Air Jordan 1 High OG “Denim” and Air Jordan 4 “Military Black,” as well as showed off UNC’s new Air Jordan 6 PE. Nike also chimed in on the action with new reveals including teh Nike SB Dunk Low “Blue Raspberry” and a teaser of the upcoming Dodgers-inspired SB Dunk Low. Elsewhere on the Swoosh side, Drake was spotted rocking an unidentified Zoom Flight 95 colorway which has the potential to be his next NOCTA collaboration.
It was a relatively quiet week for adidas, but the German sportswear brand did bring light to the upcoming adidas YEEZY FOAM RNNR “Sulfur” and gave the classic Busenitz silhouette a vulcanized treatment. In terms of other brands, we captured a look at the laceless Engineered Garments x Vault by Vans Era, COMME des GARÇONS HOMME simple-yet-luxe New Balance CT300 and a closer look at the Palace x Calvin Klein x Vans Authentic “Calvans.”
Now that we’ve enlightened you on all of the latest in sneakers, check out the top releases of the week here below. And when you’re done there, be sure to browse through HBX for more footwear styles.
A-COLD-WALL* x Converse Aeon Active CX “Micro Chip/Healing Jade”
Converse
Converse
Converse
Release Date: April 12
Release Price: $160 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS and Converse
Why You Should Cop: A-COLD-WALL* is pausing their collaborations with Dr. Martens for a brief second and linking up with Converse for an Aeon Active CX team-up. For this initiative, Samuel Ross and his team fashion the kicks with breathable mesh uppers in a “Micro Chip” hue and coat the bulbous midsole piece with a “Healing Jade” tone. A-COLD-WALL* branding comes printed in black font on the lateral walls.
Polaroid x Nike SB Dunk Low
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: April 12
Release Price: $120 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Nike SB will often tap obscure partners to come in and remix its various silhouettes if the story can be told the right way. And this season, the Swoosh’s skate label has aligned with the memory makers of Polaroid to reimagine the classic SB Dunk Low. The camera imprint’s signature multi-colored logo is translated through the stacked Swooshes on the side walls and insoles while the base is primarily covered in black.
Staple x Crocs Classic Clog
Atmos Tokyo
Atmos Tokyo
Atmos Tokyo
Release Date: April 13
Release Price: $79 USD
Where to Buy: atmos
Why You Should Cop: Oddly enough, Crocs has the global pandemic to thank for its new peak. Since clogs, mules and every in between suddenly became hot commodities over quarantine, the brand capitalized on this notion and garnered more attention through its collaborations. Next up on the Colorado-based imprint’s agenda is a team-up with Staple on a Classic Clog that resembles the concrete jungle that is New York City. Custom Jibbitz include pigeon feet, a mouse, chewing gum, a cockroach, Staple-branded noodles, a sewer alligator and a packet of faux matches.
Dover Street Market x New Balance Made in UK 991
Dover Street Market
Dover Street Market
Dover Street Market
Dover Street Market
Release Date: April 14
Release Price: $273 USD
Where to Buy: Dover Street Market
Why You Should Cop: Dover Street Market will often participate in various footwear projects every year, and the latest to be unveiled is its newest New Balance Made in UK 991. The shoe is mostly fashioned with neutral tones, grey being the most dominant across the premium nubuck while touches of cream disperse to the tongues, collars, toe boxes and midsoles. “DSM” branding arrives on the left heels as well as the throat overlays.
New Balance 2002R/550 “Conversations Amongst Us”
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
Release Date: April 15
Release Price: $120-$150 USD
Where to Buy: New Balance
Why You Should Cop: Joe Freshgoods is expanding his work portfolio with New Balance as he helmed the creative direction of its newest “Conversations Amongst Us” collection. By partnering up with Black designers on the New Balance team, he’s fashioned new styles of the 2002R and the popular 550, both of which are brought to fruition with creamy uppers and pale yellow accents to achieve a vintage aesthetic.
Union x Air Jordan 2 “Rattan” and “Grey Fog”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: April 15
Release Price: $225 USD
Where to Buy: Foot Locker
Why You Should Cop: After conducting a raffle release for folks based in the Greater Los Angeles area, Union and Jordan Brand are slated to give their fans another shot at copping the Air Jordan 2 “Rattan” and “Grey Fog” colorways. Chris Gibbs and his team reimagined the classic silhouette with perforated quarter panels, collars that are adorned with production-inspired tags and circular patterns.
Air Jordan 7 “Sapphire”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: April 16
Release Price: $210 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: The Air Jordan 7 will be pushed to the frontlines on many occasions this year in celebration of its 30th anniversary, and one entry that will be making its way to the frontlines is this Air Jordan 7 “Sapphire” makeup. The model has been modernized with semi-translucent quarters and collars to that the titular accents have the ability to shine through. Overlays come styled with lighter beige overlays while the sole units are done up in a muted gray.
Tyga x MSCHF “Wavy Baby”
Mschf
Mschf
Mschf
Release Date: April 18
Release Price: $225 USD
Where to Buy: MSCHF
Why You Should Cop: Sometimes the best and the worst part about footwear is that there are no rules. Brands can go as wild as they want and there’s a chance someone out there will hit that “add to cart” button. Rapper Tyga might just have the craziest sneaker of 2022 as he’s teamed up with MSCHF to craft the “Wavy Baby” model. It’s essentially a Vans Old Skool with exaggerated wave-like sole pieces and upper branding.
