The Air Jordan 11 "Gratitude" Guides This Week's Best Footwear Drops
With contributions from sacai x Nike, JJJJound x Reebok, Stampd x UGG and more involved as well.
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December has begun and the holiday season is upon us. Whether you’re looking to grab a present for yourself or someone else, the sneaker game continues to provide as Nike, Jordan Brand, MSCHF, Oakley, Reebok and UGG have all combined for another exciting week of footwear drops. However, before getting too carried away with the highlight releases scheduled across the next seven days, let’s review what went down in the industry this past week.
The feature front was fully loaded as our latest edition of Sole Mates led the way with Her Grails founder Tausha Sanders and the A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 5 “Dawn.” From there, the team caught up with Nike Running’s senior product director to chat about the new Alphafly 3 and its determination to provide marathon speed for all. As the year wraps up, end of year content continues to roll out with the Hypebeast UK team reviewing the best UK sneaker collaborations of 2023 and Hypegolf outlining the best golf shoes of the year as well.
Looking to the standard news cycle, Off-White™ surprise dropped its Nike Air Force 1 Mid “Grim Reaper” collaboration, a design that was originally rumored to be limited to two pairs in existence. Elsewhere, the Swoosh officially unveiled its three-part The Powerpuff Girls x Nike SB Dunk Low collection while a Timothée Chalamet-designed Nike Dunk Low “Wonka” also hit the net. Rounding out Nike’s notables, KAWS teamed up with Sky High Farm and Nike to reveal a collaborative project involving the Air Force 1 Low for Dover Street Market New York’s 10th anniversary. As for its Jordan Brand subsidiary, first looks at the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Black Olive” and Jeff Green’s Air Jordan 11 “Chrome” PE popped up as well.
Elsewhere in the sneaker world, adidas announced the release details surrounding the debut of Anthony Edwards’ first signature shoe — the adidas AE 1. Per usual, plenty of collaborations caught our eye with solebox connecting with Reebok on the Club C 85 Vintage, Louis Vuitton tapping Zellerfeld for a new 3D-printed shoe, District Vision outfitting New Balance’s Fresh Foam X More Trail sneaker and HIDDEN.NY crafting its own ASICS GEL-NYC collaboration.
With all of last week’s headlines out of the way, it’s time for the main event of breaking down this week’s top drops. Afterwards, don’t forget to check out HBX to shop styles that are available now.
Oakley Factory Team Edge Boot
Oakley Factory Team
Oakley Factory Team
Release Date: December 5
Release Price: $190 USD
Where to Buy: Oakley
Why You Should Cop: Oakley has continued to make noise in the sneaker space once again, thanks to Kyle Ng and the team at Brain Dead who spearhead the Oakley Factory Team project. In their second year with the division, another silhouette is ready to launch — the Edge Boot. Revisiting the Oakley Nail Mid, the Edge Boot utilizes a nubuck upper for a look that taps into retro aesthetics while maintaining a modern edge via its textured sole unit.
Nike ACG Torre Mid “Pecan” and “Burnt Sienna”
Nike
Nike
Release Date: December 5
Release Price: $150 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Pulled straight from 1995, Nike has returned to the ACG Torre Mid as part of its latest push for ‘90s silhouettes within the All Conditions Gear (ACG) line. Combining hairy suede overlays with a waterproof base, the ACG Torre Mid is ready to embrace the elements in style. Its leading colorways for the return involve autumnal browns combining for the “Pecan” pair and a wheat hue contrasted by navy on the “Burnt Sienna” look.
MSCHF Super Baby
Mschf
Mschf
Mschf
Release Date: December 5
Release Price: $250 USD
Where to Buy: MSCHF
Why You Should Cop: Baby shoes and their unique proportions are simply adorable, and MSCHF is here to offer adults the opportunity to embrace this with the Super Baby silhouette. Running with the larger-than-life flow that it established with the Big Red Boot, MSCHF again plays with proportions as the Super Baby recreates the playfulness of baby shoes. Matching the shape, the colorways are filled with youth as they range from pink and silver to a primary color-adorned arrangement, with a plain all-white look rounding things out.
sacai x Nike Magmascape
Nike
Nike
Release Date: December 7
Release Price: $200 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Chitose Abe and her label sacai continue to assemble some of Nike’s most unique collaborations each year. While known for their “two of everything” design approach, the duo has now cooked up its own hybrid silhouette — the Magmascape. Combining both the Air Magma and Air Footscape, an exploration-ready sneaker has been created that balances modern style and function. Its debut colorways see a classic “Varsity Royal” display complemented by a fall-ready “Pecan” pair.
JJJJound x Reebok Classic Nylon “Grey”
Jjjjound
Jjjjound
Jjjjound
Release Date: December 7
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: JJJJound
Why You Should Cop: JJJJound’s footwear collaborations continue to be automatic inclusions in the best footwear drops series courtesy of the label’s knack for tasteful arrangements across its many partnerships. Revisiting the Reebok Classic Nylon, the duo has cooked up yet another versatile pair. This time around, they decided to go “Grey” as the slick hue combines with white and off-white detailing as minimal co-branding appears in black at the lateral.
1017 ALYX 9SM x Nike Air Force 1 Low
Nike
Nike
Release Date: December 7
Release Price: $155 USD
Where to Buy: 1017 ALYX 9SM
Why You Should Cop: Matthew M Williams’ 1017 ALYX 9SM is no stranger to the Nike Air Force 1. Reworking the high-top version many times in the past by equipping it with the brand’s signature buckle, the duo has now pivoted to the low-top version of the shoe. Opting for a subtle approach this time around, all-black and all-white colorways have been prepared with premium materials and lowkey branding, offering a versatile finish for anyone to enjoy.
SoleFly x Air Jordan 8
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: December 8
Release Price: $225 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: South Beach-based retailer SoleFly has a long-running partnership with Jordan Brand. Over the years, the two brands have created many collaborative colorways across the Air Jordan series. Now, the two have assembled a fresh take on the Air Jordan 8. Cream serves as the primary color used while red and navy are also included in the color palette to create an eye-catching finish that is sure to stand out on foot.
Stüssy x Nike Air Flight 89
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: December 8
Release Price: $160 USD
Where to Buy: Stüssy
Why You Should Cop: As Stüssy continues to dominate in the streetwear scene, its partnership with Nike has similarly succeeded. Throughout the year, the two have continued to produce footwear that blends legacy and style. Looking to the Air Flight 89, the recently-revived silhouette stands out with snakeskin detailing found across three colorways of “Pecan,” “Habanero Red” and “Black.”
Stampd x UGG Classic Boot
Stampd
Stampd
Stampd
Release Date: December 9
Release Price: $275 USD
Where to Buy: Stampd
Why You Should Cop: Teaming up for the third time, Stampd and UGG have reconnected on the Classic Boot. Preparing the instantly-recognizable silhouette in premium lamb suede at the upper, a contemporary finish has been crafted courtesy of the two guards that come with each pair. Offering a camouflaged look or a blank one, the guards serve as a durable support for the boot. As for the color arrangements, they include “Camo,” “Taupe” and “Black,” with the first two featuring a glow-in-the-dark guard in taupe.
Air Jordan 11 “Gratitude”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: December 9
Release Price: $230 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Looking back to January 2006, the Air Jordan 11 portion of the “Defining Moments Pack” (DMP) stands out as one of the silhouette’s most popular colorways. Returning under the “Gratitude” name, it follows the re-release of the Air Jordan 6 “DMP” that took place in 2020. Combining black patent leather with white leather, the contrast supports the gold accents in creating a regal finish backed by premium materials.
