sacai Chops the Top off the Nike Blazer in This Week's Best Footwear Drops
Other releases of note include adidas collaborations from Kanye West, Pharrell and Sean Wotherspoon, the vivid Air Jordan 1 “Light Fusion Red” and more.
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Quite unlike this past weekend’s toothless “boxing match” between Logan Paul and the ghost of Floyd Mayweather Jr., this week holds some knockout sneaker releases. It’s quite a diverse lineup, one that features outfits like Nike, Jordan Brand, adidas, PUMA and even Crocs plus a wide array of collaborators, but before we ring the bell let’s catch up on last week’s news first.
On the latest installment of Sole Mates, Bling Empire star and fledgling sneakerhead Jamie Xie shared her love for the Nike Zoom MMW 4. We also took a look at some of Jeremy Scott’s most divisive adidas collaborations after it was announced he’d be resuming his partnership with the Three Stripes this fall, got an exclusive quote from Rick Owens on his new Birkenstock collaboration and provided a closer look at the fragment design x Nike Dunk High “Beijing.”
In the boundless world of the Swoosh, Air Jordans and Dunks were the shoes du jor. We got an on-foot look at the long-rumored Air Jordan 1 “Patent Bred,” saw new images of the highly anticipated Air Jordan 4 “White Oreo” and got a first look at the Aleali May x Air Jordan 14 Low plus a colorful Air Jordan 19 sample. Dunk-wise, there were official images of the Dunk Low “Triple White” and Dunk High “Midnight Navy,” plus looks at the Familia x First Avenue x SB Dunk Low “Prince,” two Gundam-inspired SB Dunk Highs and rumors of an AMBUSH x Nike Dunk High “Flash Lime.”
Outside of that, another UNDEFEATED x Nike Air Force 1 “Dunk vs. AF1” was revealed, and we got the best look yet at the Travis Scott x Nike Air Max 1 “Cactus Jack” plus a first glimpse at the fragment design x sacai x Nike LDWaffle in gray and the UNDERCOVER x Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 2 in a Jordan-esque makeup. Kobe Bryant‘s wife Vanessa was in the headlines as well, bashing Nike for the Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita,” which she said was “NOT approved for sale.” Kanye West caused a stir too, but not for his normal reasons: he was spotted wearing the Nike Vandal despite his long-running contract with adidas.
In more traditional Kanye news, we were treated to his latest silhouette: the adidas YEEZY KNIT RNNR. A first look was provided at the New Balance 990v6 and Salehe Bembury officially announced his New Balance 2002R “Water Be the Guide” collaboration. Last but not least, Packer Shoes teased a Prada-esque Reebok Answer V collaboration.
Now that you’re up to speed, see this week’s 10 best releases below. When you’re done head over to HBX to check out even more new footwear styles.
Diplo x Crocs Classic Clog and Classic Sandal
Crocs
Crocs
Crocs
Crocs
Crocs
Release Date: June 8
Release Price: $70 USD (Classic Clog) and $55 USD (Classic Sandal)
Where to Buy: Crocs
Why You Should Cop: You’re not on a psychedelic-induced trip — you’re really looking at a Diplo x Crocs collaboration, and it’s really a part of Best Footwear Drops. Yet another compelling piece of Crocs’ ever-expanding collaborative portfolio, these Classic Clogs and Classic Sandals are equipped with 3D, glow-in-the-dark mushroom Jibbitz that provide a trippy nod to Diplo’s love of psychedelics and serve as this week’s most wacky footwear option.
sacai x Nike Blazer Low “Classic Green” and “Magma Orange”
Sneaker Politics/One Block Down
Sneaker Politics/One Block Down
Sneaker Politics/One Block Down
Sneaker Politics/One Block Down
Sneaker Politics/One Block Down
Release Date: June 10
Release Price: $120 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS, Sneaker Politics and One Block Down
Why You Should Cop: No, you seeing these Blazers on this list is not a residual effect of the psychedelic footwear you feasted your eyes on above. The sacai x Nike Blazer Low is really and truly releasing in both “Classic Green” and “Magma Orange” this week after months of teasers and postponements. It boasts doubled-up detailing, chopped-down collars and bright color schemes, making for a more than worthy addition to Chitose Abe and the Swoosh’s collaborative canon.
OAMC x adidas Type O-9
Oamc
Oamc
Oamc
Oamc
Release Date: June 10
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: OAMC and adidas
Why You Should Cop: OAMC and adidas never do “standard” collaborations, where the collaborative party slaps a new colorway on one of the footwear company’s most well-known silhouettes. Instead, OAMC takes DNA from the Three Stripes’ extensive archives to create brand-new designs. The latest of these is the Type O-9, a sneaker that elevates classic Microbounce tech from the mid ’00s with dual-material uppers, bold TPU overlays and more.
A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 3 “Raised by Women”
Kyle Reyes/Hypebeast
Kyle Reyes/Hypebeast
Kyle Reyes/Hypebeast
Release Date: June 10
Release Price: $200 USD (Adults), $90 USD (Preschool), $70 USD (Toddlers)
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS and A Ma Maniére
Why You Should Cop: We said the last release of the A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 3 “Raised by Women” was the last release — but we swear, this release is really the last release … unless a restock goes down, of course. After a debut at AMM and a drop at global stockists, this ultra-crisp Air Jordan 3 is finally closing its run with a stateside SNKRS release, providing USA-based sneakerheads one final chance to get their hands on what may well be the Air Jordan of the year. It’s also set to drop in toddler and preschool sizes for the first time ever, though these will be available exclusively at A Ma Maniére.
adidas YEEZY BOOST 700 “Enflame Amber”
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Release Date: June 11
Release Price: $240 USD
Where to Buy: adidas and YEEZY Supply
Why You Should Cop: Kanye West’s adidas YEEZY BOOST 700 is one of the YEEZY line’s most popular models, and for good reason: it’s big, bold and bulky, a shoe that’s always willing to make a statement. In recent months, it’s been playing with vivid colors more too. One result of that is the “Enflame Amber,” which combines sandy tan shades with bright orange embellishments. At the time of writing its release is pending final confirmation from the Three Stripes. However, if it does drop, it’ll serve as one of this month’s most striking YEEZY releases.
Skepta x Nike Air Max Tailwind V “Bloody Chrome”
Nike
Release Date: June 12
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Deja vu, innit? If you though you saw the Skepta x Nike Air Max Tailwind V before, you wouldn’t be mistaken: it debuted in a cool “Chrome Blue” colorway back in March. Now, however, it’s back in “Bloody Chrome,” a makeup that retains the butterfly-printed detailing and chromed-out accents of its predecessor, but swaps out chilly blue tones for feisty red shades.
Rhuigi x PUMA Suede
Puma
Puma
Puma
Release Date: June 12
Release Price: $80 USD
Where to Buy: PUMA
Why You Should Cop: It’s rare that you can get a collaborative shoe from one of the hottest designers out for under a hundred bucks, but Rhuigi Villaseñor’s PUMA Suede is just that. The RHUDE founder — collaborating under his own name instead of his brand’s — has created a luxurious take on PUMA’s most well-known lifestyle sneaker, one that’s equal parts skateboarding, b-boying and basketball.
Pharrell x adidas NMD Hu “Orange”
Adidas
Adidas
Release Date: June 12
Release Price: $220 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: You could accuse Pharrell Williams and adidas of a “rinse and repeat” formula when it comes to the NMD Hu, but like the old saying goes “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Skateboard P and the Three Stripes aren’t reinventing the wheel with the NMD Hu “Orange,” but they are providing an apt summer option with an undeniably eye-catching color scheme and bold Xhosa (a Nguni Bantu language that’s one of the official dialects of South Africa and Zimbabwe) branding.
Air Jordan 1 “Light Fusion Red”
Yankeekicks
Yankeekicks
Yankeekicks
Release Date: June 12
Release Price: $170 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: We’d say the Air Jordan 1 is an ideal summer sneaker, but that feels like discounting the fact that it’s also an ideal fall, spring and winter sneaker. Nevertheless, the Air Jordan 1 “Light Fusion Red” provides sunny style by contrasting its eponymous hits against a crisp white leather base and “Laser Orange” accents, making for one of this summer’s best AJ 1 releases.
Sean Wotherspoon x adidas ZX 8000 SUPEREARTH “Legacy For Our Kids”
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Release Date: June 13
Release Price: $100 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: As indicated by how many of his past footwear projects released in children’s sizes, it’s safe to say that Sean Wotherspoon’s collaborative footwear designs are just as much for kids as they are for adults. Continuing this trend, the Spoonman’s adidas ZX 8000 SUPEREARTH is releasing in both infant and toddler sizes this week, each complete with all the detail from the adult-sized pairs — save for dangling threads, a trip-preventing exclusion. In short, the “Legacy For Our Kids” is a perfect choice for the sustainability-minded (and stylish) kid in your life.
