The adidas AE1 "Best of Adi" Leads This Week's Best Footwear Drops

With Paris Fashion Week officially underway, sneakerheads from around the world will be looking out for the hottest footwear trends on the FROW and around the streets of the French city. But, for those unable to get over to France, the footwear industry’s biggest labels are continuing to keep things moving, with the likes of Nike, adidas, ASICS, Salomon and more all providing new designs to vet out from home over the next week. However, before we run into what’s coming over the next seven days, let’s look at what’s recently dominated the headlines.

On the feature front, Hypebeast checked out the best footwear trends from both London and Milan Fashion Week, while we also caught up with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who opened up about Converse’s legacy and what personal style means to him.

As for the news, Clint419 teased a Supreme x Nike Air Max Dn “Silver Bullet” and the Swoosh gave readers a first official look at the Nike Blazer Phantom Low in “Goddess of Victory.” Elsewhere, Nike brought “Pale Ivory” detailing to the Air Humara and the Nike Dunk Low was confirmed to be making its return this Spring.

Outside of Nike, “MX Charcoal” hit the adidas AE1, while the YEEZY BOOST 350 surfaced in “Steel Grey.” Rounding things out, Stüssy upgraded the Converse Chuck 70 with Hairy Suede and NEEDLES unveiled its new collaboration with ASICS to keep people talking.

With all of footwear’s key news recapped, let’s run through 10 of this week’s best releases to be hitting stores worldwide. Afterward, don’t forget to hit up HBX to shop styles that can be purchased today.

RANRA x Salomon SKOR

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Salomon

Release Date: February 27
Release Price: $440 USD
Where to Buy: Salomon
Why You Should Cop: London-based label RANRA has become a regular collaborator in recent times. The brand often experiments with who it links ups with, however, Salomon has been a regular partner for Luke Stevens’ imprint. The brand has just unveiled its third collaboration with Salomon, with the duo coming together to play around with sustainable materials and out-of-the-box design techniques. The duo’s latest creation is designed for both the summer months and for chilly excursions in the mountains, using the low-cut silhouette to host a removable cover that’s complemented by customary zig-zag branding from Salomon and solid panels hit with dim green accents.

Naruto x Crocs Classic Clogs Collection

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Crocs

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Crocs

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Crocs

Release Date: February 27
Release Price: $70 USD
Where to Buy: Crocs
Why You Should Cop: Crocs always has something surprising up its sleeve, and the brand’s latest collaboration is with the Japanese manga series, Naruto, for two unique interpretations of the Classic Clog. The two pairs are inspired by two of the franchise’s most iconic characters, Naruto and Kakashi, with the pairs dressed in vibrant green and orange shades. Both pairs also come with Jibbitz accessories, allowing you to customize them however you see fit.

Air Jordan 5 Retro “Lucky Green”

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Release Date: February 28
Release Price: $200 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: The Air Jordan 5 “Lucky Green” — which is releasing as part of Jordan Brand’s Spring 2024 Retro collection — has been teased various times over the past few months. But now, the sneaker is finally hitting shalves, as its Celtics-inspired color scheme is hit with a slew of intricate branding to make it one of the most unique-looking drops to come from the brand this year. Highlight features from the sneaker come in the form of the “23” on the lateral heel, while a green Jumpman logo is then added to the tongue and heel alongside a vibrant, multi-colored midsole. Rounding out the design, Jordan Brand adds a translucent outsole.

Nike Air Foamposite One “Eggplant”

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Release Date: February 29
Release Price: $240 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: The Nike Air Foamposite One “Eggplant” is steeped in history. The sneaker originally dropped in 2009, before returning to shelves in 2017 for the silhouette’s 20th anniversary. Now, after another seven years, the shoe is returning as part of the Swoosh’s Spring 2024 rollout. For those unaware of the Foamposite One’s unique design, the sneaker is dressed in a pleasant combination of black and purple, while the black mesh and nubuck upper is complemented by a corresponding black carbon fiber plate underneath. Meanwhile, the classic “1 Cent” motif — placed to represent Penny Hardaway — hits the heels to round off the design.

AIREI x ASICS Gel-Quantum Kinetic

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Asics

Release Date: February 29
Release Price: $265 USD
Where to Buy: Dover Street Market Los Angeles
Why You Should Cop: Back in 2023, ASICS and AIREI took over Paris Fashion Week with their surprise, but much welcomed, debut collaboration. The pair came together to combine the identities of both brands, with AIREI’s avant-garde approach to design naturally complemented by ASICS’ technically-focused thought processes to everyday footwear. More of the same has now been presented in the duo’s latest collaboration, with the new creation paying tribute to the positive spirits within us. Aesthetically, the shoe is hit with customary ASICS branding along the lateral sides, while the shiny outsole adds a touch of luxury. Meanwhile, the shoe is also set alight for its campaign, symbolizing “noble causes, fabrics with scars, and conquered challenges.”

Air Jordan Spizike Low Bred

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Release Date: March 1
Release Price: $160 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Sneakers created by Jordan Brand are constantly evolving, and the Jordan Spizike now has a low-top version fitted for the modern streetwear approach to today’s fashion. Made with an all-black leather upper, the shoe is also hit with a melange of monochromatic elements on the midsole and hardware, while red accents are then added to the eyestays and rubber outsole. Rounding off the design, the shoe features grey elephant print overlays on the heel and toebox.

adidas AE 1 “Best of Adi”

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Salomon

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Salomon

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Salomon

Release Date: March 1
Release Price: $120 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: Following an impressive 2023, Minnesota Timberwolves hooper Anthony Edwards launched his inaugural signature shoe: the adidas AE1, in three colorways. Since the presentation of the new line, the “With Love” edition went down as an instant smash with its futuristic construction and vibrant branding on the heel counter. The latest edition to come from from the sneaker line is designed with a black knit textile, while a TPU support cage is used to make things more durable on-court. Meanwhile, the colorway — which shows similarities to Kobe Bryant’s “Stormtrooper” — is joined by perforations for extra breathability, while Edwards’ initials are applied to the woven tongue tag to round things off.

Air Jordan 1 Golf Mule UNC

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Nike

Release Date: March 1
Release Price: $110 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Jordan Brand’s golfing range is constantly leveling up. The brand often leans into Michael Jordan’s love for the sport, offering an innovative approach to footwear design to keep things new and different. This approach to design is encapsulated the most in the brand’s Air Jordan Mule Golf, which is designed for slipping into post-game, or for gearing up for the next round. Made with memory foam for added cushioning, the slip-on is also designed with a synthetic leather gusseted tongue and tiny perforation holes that bring a pleasant breeze when it’s needed most.

Nike KD 16 “Slim Reaper”

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Release Date: March 1
Release Price: $160 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Not many hoopers are blessed enough to adopt a cool nickname that sticks. But for Kevin Durant, aka the “Slim Reaper,” the baller gained his nickname for his consistent scoring ability on the court and his undeniably tall, slender, but fiercely powerful frame. Nike’s Basketball line is now honoring this with a special edition release of the KD 16 sneakers, which are dropping as part of the Swoosh’s Spring 2024 line. The sneaker is designed in a menacing black and red color scheme, while metallic silver detailing is used for the customary Nike and KD logos as well as the TPU overlays. Silver speckles then hit the lacing for further detailing and the “Slim Reaper” name is added to the insole to round things off.

Air Jordan 5 Retro “Olive”

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Release Date: March 2
Release Price: $225 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Since the Air Jordan 5 “Olive” dropped in 2006, the sneaker has become a grail for many sneakerheads across the globe. However, for lovers of the shoe who may not have got their hands on a pair all those years ago (or for those who just want a re-up), the sleek design is returning to shelves for a 2024 release. Dressed in a green, orange and black color scheme, the new Air Jordan 5 will look exactly like the original release, with bright orange accents hitting the inner lining, while Jumpman logos are applied to the tongues and underfoot. 3M detailing is then added to the tongues, while a translucent outsole completes the look.