The Air Jordan 1 High OG “Vibrations of Naija” Brings Nigerian Flair to This Week’s Best Footwear Drops

Glimpses of summer have started to shine as May continues to bring us one step closer to sunny days. While the world of basketball has been shocked by the Denver Nuggets sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers — with the Miami Heat one game from accomplishing the same feat against the Boston Celtics — the footwear space continues its steady flow with a stream of releases from Nike, New Balance, adidas and Crocs. Before we break down what drops to keep an eye out for this week, let’s go ahead and review the headlines that have surfaced since our last recap.

Sole Mates returned as the sole feature of the week with Jerry Wu discussing the Nike LeBron 10 “Elite,” his coveted collection and more. In other Nike news, the rumor mill has brought forth a couple of key releases to pencil in for 2024 — a Supreme x Nike Clogposite release and the return of the Air Foamposite One “Eggplant.” Another high-powered collaboration took form with A-COLD-WALL* unveiling two new looks on the Air Max Plus.

As for the Jumpman team, it was all about first looks this week. Travis Scott lit up social media by sporting an unreleased silhouette at Cannes while his close friend Chase B flexed a UTOPIA-themed Air Jordan 1 Low “Olive.” An Italian-inspired Air Jordan 2 “Fire Red/Fir Green” debuted alongside a closer look at the Air Jordan 1 High “Royal Reimagined” as well.

Pivoting to the Three Stripes, adidas announced release information for the return of adidas YEEZY — headlined by a reissue of the adidas YEEZY BOOST 350 “Pirate Black.” It also previewed three football boots made in collaboration with Prada as the first-ever luxury football collaboration revolving around footwear. Lastly, its Superstar “Concha” — a tribute to Mexican sweet bread — appeared in an almost-surreal form.

Elsewhere in the wild world of footwear, A-COLD-WALL* teamed up with Dr. Martens to retool the 1461 with utilitarian flair, JJJJound teased a Salomon XT-Wings 2 collaboration and Bodega revealed “The Trail Less Taken” campaign with New Balance on the 610.

Now that you’re up to speed on the latest happenings in the footwear industry, let’s take a peek into what the next seven days have in store for us. Once you’re done, don’t forget to explore HBX to shop styles that are available now.

Air Jordan 6 “Toro”

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Release Date: May 24
Release Price: $200 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS, HBX
Why You Should Cop: Back in 2009, Jordan Brand introduced the “Raging Bull” pack starring the Air Jordan 5 in black and red colorways. Drawing inspiration from the Toro Bravo bull, the colorway has been solidified as a classic in the Jumpman lexicon after landing on several other silhouettes. Now, it graces the Air Jordan 6 for the first time as textured suede in “Varsity Red” is joined by hits of black throughout.

Satisfy x Crocs Classic Clog

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Satisfy

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Satisfy

Release Date: May 24
Release Price: $110 USD
Where to Buy: Crocs
Why You Should Cop: In continuation of its collaborative conquest, Crocs has joined forces with the runners at Satisfy to revisit an old design of the Classic Clog. Upgraded with a neoprene collar, the clog appears in “Bone” and “Noir” colorways that offer a utilitarian flair with removable co-branded pouches. For the final touch, the monochromatic pairs arrive in a matching nylon bag that will aid you in exploring the great outdoors.

Nike Air Max 1 “Escape”

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Release Date: May 25
Release Price: $160 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS, HBX
Why You Should Cop: As Nike continues to cherish its beloved Air Max 1 with a bevy of new colorways and themes, the Swoosh is encouraging fans to “Escape” into the wild with its latest look. The typical Air Max 1 silhouette returns in rugged suede and an airy textile with a color composition that takes inspiration from a vintage Nike running ad — bringing together emerald, white, taupe, black and red hits across the shoe. Most notably, the heel taps into Nike’s Pacific Northwest heritage and showcases an embroidered treeline design to tie the theme together.

Prada x adidas Football Boots

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Release Date: May 25
Release Price: $500 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: In the world of collaboration that we reside in today, unique combinations are brought forth each day. For adidas, its initial collection with Prada surprised many as the brand fully dove into luxury partnerships at the start of the decade. The latest project from the duo — “adidas Football for Prada” — presents the Three Stripes’ legendary boots with an instantly-recognizable Prada styling. Utilizing the Predator Accuracy, Copa Pure and X Crazyfast, the campaign is a special opportunity for footballers to blend fashion and footy.

Nike Ja 1 “Hunger”

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Release Date: May 25
Release Price: $110 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Since announcing Ja Morant’s first signature shoe, Nike has been placed in several tricky scenarios. It was quick to replace Kyrie Irving’s presence with the Ja 1, however, the brand certainly didn’t expect a wave of new controversies to follow. With Morant in the hot seat of multiple NBA infractions being investigated, many have questioned his future with the Swoosh. Despite this, the show goes on and the Ja 1 remains scheduled to hit shelves this week in its mismatched “Hunger” presentation. Taking on a sure-to-stand-out form, this “Hunger” pair goes from mostly red on the left shoe to blue on the right with a flair that matches the star guard’s energy on the court.

Salehe Bembury x Crocs Pollex Slide “Citrus Milk”

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Release Date: May 25
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: Spunge
Why You Should Cop: Salehe Bembury’s meteoric rise in streetwear can be credited in part to his collaborative work with Crocs. The magic of the Pollex Clog has led to Bembury receiving a Creative Director position at Crocs for a newly-created Pollex Pod division. Now, he ushers in the next chapter of the Pollex story with the Pollex Slide. Arriving in a familiar “Citrus Milk,” the slip-on silhouette is just as eye-catching as its predecessor.

Nike Air Max 1 “Coral Stardust Corduroy”

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Release Date: May 26
Release Price: $160 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS, HBX
Why You Should Cop: As soon as traditional colorway combinations start to run dry, it’s common for brands to find new ways to experiment with their classic models. For Nike, this often includes alterations to the silhouette, material or the introduction of special themes and collaborations. With the Air Max 1 in particular, 2023 has introduced both a slide version of the AM1 and reintroduced corduroy as an upper material for the shoe. Taking on a “Coral Stardust Corduroy,” this pair combines an almost-Valentine’s Day finish of pink and reds.

DTLR x New Balance 2002R

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Release Date: May 26
Release Price: $165 USD
Where to Buy: DTLR
Why You Should Cop: Lifestyle retailer DTLR has worked with American sportswear brand New Balance on several occasions. For 2023, the duo has adopted the “Virginia is for Lovers” slogan on the 2002R. The pair appears with a mixed material construction that toggles between suede and mesh. Its color composition sees various grays joined by black, blue and red with the 2002R’s typical branding notes scattered throughout the sneaker.

Air Jordan 1 High OG “Vibrations of Naija”

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Extra Butter/Nike

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Extra Butter/Nike

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Extra Butter/Nike

Release Date: May 27
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Nike continues to grow its international presence each year with regionally-influenced pairs and collaborations. This year, it continues to tap into African culture by drawing inspiration from Nigerian design with the release of the Air Jordan 1 High OG “Vibrations of Naija.” Its Swooshes, collar and tongue branding all introduce a unique textile that blends off-white and black in a speckled presentation. Elsewhere, a versatile white and cream blend coats the leather upper, maintaining its emphasis on the finer details of the pair.

Air Jordan 14 “Laney”

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Release Date: May 27
Release Price: $210 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS, HBX
Why You Should Cop: When it comes to storytelling, almost the entirety of Michael Jordan’s playing career in basketball has been recreated in shoe form. In 1999, Jordan sported a low-top Air Jordan 14 “Laney” — nodding to Laney High School, the school Jordan attended before college. Its color composition of “Varsity Maize” accents and a “Varsity Royal” upper celebrate Jordan’s legacy while also paying homage to a classic release on the silhouette. Now appearing in a mid-top “Laney” form, black and white detailing around the toe, heel and sole complete this special celebration of the shoe’s 25th anniversary.