CLOT and Nike Construct the Cork Dunk in This Week's Best Footwear Drops

Following up on last week’s Milan Fashion Week showcase, all eyes are on Paris with its men’s week kicking off with a much-anticipated Louis Vuitton show that sees Pharrell at the helm for the first time. However, that’s not all that this week is offering us. Per usual, brands from Nike to New Balance and adidas are equipping us with the latest looks in footwear. Before we dive into what to look out for, let’s go ahead and glance over last week’s news headlines in the industry.

Leading the way in the features department, our latest edition of Sole Mates features ESENES Worldwide founder Justin Son and the Acne Studios Derby Boot. Elsewhere, the team reviewed street style at Milan Fashion Week, noting the best footwear trends spotted on-foot. Wrapping up the long-form content, the Hypegolf squad assembled a list of the best west coast-inspired golf shoes.

Pivoting to the news, Nike took to social media to share a teaser for a new Fortnite collaboration that it referred to as “The Ultimate Sneakerhunt.” Following this, we got a closer look at the Nike Mac Attack “Red Crush” while the Swoosh revealed a new Vomero 5 colorway set in beige, olive and yellow. Adding to the frenzy, an early look at a new Nike lifestyle model — a fresh take on the Huarache — popped up as well. As for its Jordan Brand subsidiary, early looks at the Air Jordan 1 “Satin Bred,” PSG x Air Jordan 6 Low “Cement Grey” and Air Jordan 6 “Aqua” all surfaced this past week.

Elsewhere in the industry, adidas announced a Samba Café for Paris Fashion Week with Pharrell and introduced a new adiFom Platform Mule. New Balance switched things up with a vibrant “Prism Purple” colorway on the 9060 while Kiko Kostadinov teased new footwear that is expected to appear during his show on June 24. Lastly, NTS Radio and Dr. Martens shared a new 1461 collaboration and AI sneaker bathtubs went viral.

With all of the past week’s top headlines out of the way, let’s review every release to look forward to this week. Afterwards, don’t forget to visit HBX to check out everything that is available now.

Jacquemus x Nike J Force 1

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Release Date: June 21
Release Price: $170 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: One of the latest high-profile collaborations in fashion is between Jacquemus and Nike. Revealed prior to fashion month, it first launched via Jacquemus and now sees a wider release from the Swoosh. The two have elaborated on their previous success by combining the classic Air Force 1 and ACG Terra to create the J Force 1. Its low-top profile carries a familiar weave at the sole that connects with the Swooshes overarching woven trend in footwear this year. Leveraging versatile all-black and white looks, the emphasis is placed on its unique construction.

Nike ACG Watercat+ “Phantom”

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Release Date: June 21
Release Price: $125 USD
Where to Buy: HBX & SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Coinciding with the beginning of summer, Nike is continuing the return of the ACG Watercat+ with a vanilla-flavored “Phantom.” The Swoosh has emphasized breathability with its woven upper that is quick to dry. In addition to this, the “Phantom” presentation ensures that this pair will complement your favorite shorts. If you’re looking to take on nature, or simply add a quick-to-put-on sneaker to your rotation, look for these to drop on June 21.

Nike Air Max 1 CO.JP “Head to Head” (21)

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Release Date: June 21
Release Price: $160 USD
Where to Buy: HBX & SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Throwing it back to 2021, Nike hosted a “CO.JP Tournament” to determine which of the memorable line’s releases fans are most eager to buy. Utilizing this data, Nike went on to create this “Michigan”-esque “Head to Head” colorway that combines elements from the designs voted into the top eight. This unique mash-up includes everything from the “Varsity Maize” and “Midnight Navy” combo to crocodile and snakeskin textures.

UNKNWN x Nike LeBron 20 “Message In A Bottle”

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Release Date: June 22 & 24
Release Price: $210 USD
Where to Buy: UNKNWN & SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Both on and off the court, LeBron James has his mind on winning. In addition to his surprisingly-successful run in the NBA Playoffs this past season, James teamed up with Jaron Kanfer and Frankie Walker Jr. to open UNKNWN — a new retailer based out of Miami and James’ hometown of Akron. Following up on an Art Basel-exclusive pair of Nike LeBron 20s, the store has reconnected with the Swoosh on the silhouette for a “Message In A Bottle”-themed look. Its typical knit upper has instead taken on a rough suede with brightly-colored Swooshes lighting up each side.

Air Jordan 2 Low “Look, Up In The Air”

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Release Date: June 22
Release Price: $150 USD
Where to Buy:  SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Jordan Brand’s storytelling often centers around Michael Jordan himself — drawing inspiration from his teams, accomplishments and even various media appearances. With the “Look, Up In the Air” theme, the Jumpman team revisits a print campaign with the same name that launched in 1987 featuring Jordan and the Air Jordan 2. Landing on the low-top version of the silhouette, the thematic hits are most noticeable at the skyline-covered sockliner. These sunset hues are replicated at the shoe’s linework, tapping lavender and baby blues to offset the otherwise white and cream presentation.

Nike Mac Attack “OG”

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Release Date: June 23
Release Price: $120 USD
Where to Buy:  SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: The return of the Nike Mac Attack has been expected for multiple years now, first resurfacing courtesy of LeBron James and Travis Scott in 2021. As the Swoosh gears up for its OG black and gray colorway’s return, it shared a rebellious campaign featuring Scott and none other than the shoe’s signature athlete John “Johnny Mac” McEnroe himself. Now finally hitting shelves, the Mac Attack combines throwback elements and a mixed material build while carrying an approachable $120 USD price tag.

Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 650

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Release Date: June 23
Release Price: $165 USD
Where to Buy: New Balance
Why You Should Cop: Aimé Leon Dore has successfully weaved sports into its design language, leaning heavily on basketball in particular. Continuing the brand’s strong connection with New Balance, the duo is celebrating ALD’s Mulberry Classic tournament, launching three New Balance 650s. Previously releasing courtesy of ALD, it now sees a wider drop via New Balance in white with black, blue and green respectively.

CLOT x Nike Cork Dunk

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Release Date: June 23
Release Price: $150 USD
Where to Buy: JUICE
Why You Should Cop: Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Edison Chen and Kevin Poon’s CLOT is on a collaborative conquest for 2023. Following up on the Nike “CLOTEZ” from earlier this year, they pivoted to the Dunk, tapping fragment design for a three-way collaboration. Now, CLOT continues its work with the Swoosh by creating a Cork Dunk design that is equipped with a set of six detachable Velcro Swooshes. The cork-board inspired look encourages self-expression with layers of various materials ensuring that this pair stands out from the crowd.

Bad Bunny x adidas Response CL “Black”

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Release Date: June 24
Release Price: $160 USD
Where to Buy: Sneaker Politics
Why You Should Cop: Following adidas parting ways with talent such as Ye and Beyoncé, the Three Stripes has pivoted its focus to Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny. Working on silhouettes such as the Forum and Campus, the duo now revisits the Response CL with a stealthy all-black presentation, accented by blue at the Three Stripes and heel. Similar to previous iterations from the duo, a melting effect has been employed on the overlays with subtle co-branding hits sprinkled in.

Air Jordan 1 Low “Black Cement”

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Release Date: June 24
Release Price: $140 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: 35 years ago, the Air Jordan 3 hit the market, revitalizing the line. Over the years, the “Black Cement” colorway has been well-established as both a fan-favorite and iconic look, serving as inspiration for various pairs, including this new look on the Air Jordan 1 Low. Served up as a women’s exclusive, premium black leather at the base is joined by an all-too-familiar elephant print that covers the overlays. Adding to the presentation, white leather Swooshes are complemented by a “Sail” midsole and light gray rubber outsole.