Kiko Kostadinov's ASICS GEL-FLAMMAE Debuts in This Week's Best Footwear Drops
Arriving alongside restocks of the Union LA x Nike Field General and Action Bronson x New Balance 1906R, as well as the release of seven other notable sneakers.
The world of sports has been privy to much excitement lately, with the Copa América and UEFA European Championship taking place, the NBA Summer League starting, and Wimbledon in its final stages over in the UK. Meanwhile, the footwear industry is looking to match this enthusiasm as a loaded roster of drops are set for the coming week thanks to Nike, New Balance, Jordan Brand, ASICS and Rigorer. Before giving you the complete rundown on this week’s top ten, let’s review what went down on the news side of things this past week.
For Nike, it announced that the Adapt app is being retired as no new projects featuring the power lacing technology are in the works currently. In brighter news, the original Nike Air Safari is now expected to drop later this month and we caught closer looks at the Travis Scott x Nike Shark-A-Don “Sail” and G-Dragon’s PEACEMINUSONE x Nike Air Force 1 “Para-Noise 3.0.”
Pivoting to its Jumpman subsidiary, new rumors involving another A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 5 and an Air Jordan 12 “Blueberry” hit the net. We also caught an on-foot preview of this fall’s Air Jordan 1 High OG “Black Toe Reimagined,” as well as official imagery for the Air Jordan 6 “Olympic” and Nigel Sylvester’s Air Jordan 4 RM “Grandma’s Driveway.”
Three upcoming New Balance projects were revealed, featuring The Whitaker Group’s 1906U “Willful Bias,” CAYL’s teal and black 1906R and Miu Miu’s mule version of the 530. Elsewhere in the industry, Brain Dead and adidas dropped their “Unstructured” Stan Smiths and Red Wing launched its revitalized Moc Toe Boot.
With all of the key headlines from the past seven days covered, let’s go ahead and review the top ten releases of this week, starting with a restock of Union LA’s Nike Field General project. Once you work your way through the rundown, don’t forget to hit up HBX to shop styles that have already launched.
Union LA x Nike Field General “Ivory”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: July 10
Release Price: $120 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: In case you missed out on the initial release of the Union LA x Nike Field General, the Swoosh is set to host its own drop of the “Ivory” colorway. The retro football sneaker sports the aforementioned “Ivory” tone at its upper, combining it with a bright orange and white detailing while also including Union’s classic “UN/LA” stitched tag in yellow at the lateral. Union branding also arrives at the tongue, sockliner and the lateral midsole, where “UNION” text has been engraved in the all-black sole unit.
New Balance 1000 “Reflective Pack”
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
Release Date: July 10
Release Price: $150 USD
Where to Buy: New Balance
Why You Should Cop: Splashing onto the scene in April via a Joe Freshgoods collaboration, the New Balance 1000’s 25th anniversary celebration has been one of the brand’s many exciting storylines this year. Now, a new “Reflective Pack” sees the shoe sport reflective detailing throughout the retro runner’s upper, arriving in a monochromatic silver rendition and a black iteration with multi-colored detailing. Looking closer at the latter, its base sees an orange to purple gradient run from the heel to the toe, with hits of purple, green and yellow accenting the various overlays.
Air Jordan 1 High OG “First in Flight”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: July 10
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: The Air Jordan 1 High OG “First in Flight” is back for another release, having landed on shelves via select retailers last Saturday. Inspired by the soaring legacies of Michael Jordan and the Wright Brothers, the pair combines white with a fitting University of North Carolina-inspired blue at the forefoot’s overlays and laces, as well as hits of navy and gold at the heel, collar overlay, tongue tag, outsole and the special sockliner design.
Nike Air Max Sunder “Canyon Gold”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: July 11
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS and Extra Butter
Why You Should Cop: Teased last October, Nike is finally set to bring the Air Max Sunder back to the masses as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. The shoe was last featured in COMME des GARÇONS HOMME PLUS’ three-colorway collaboration with the Swoosh back in 2022 and now arrives in a “Canyon Gold” that rocks a subtle orange gradient at its upper. Black, gray and white detailing are spread throughout the shoe, which notably features its signature O-ring zip closure atop its lacing system.
Action Bronson x New Balance 1906R “Medusa Azul” and “Rosewater”
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
Release Date: July 12
Release Price: $170 USD
Where to Buy: New Balance
Why You Should Cop: Action Bronson launched all three of his New Balance 1906Rs earlier this year, with fans pleading for more pairs to hit shelves after each pair sold out swiftly. Now, their wishes are being answered with New Balance’s launch of the “Medusa Azul” and “Rosewater” colorways. The former utilizes various blues alongside silver, black and brown accents while the latter leans on an aerobics-inspired color palette of off-white, blue, magenta, orange, neon green and red.
Kiko Kostadinov x ASICS GEL-FLAMMAE
Asics
Asics
Asics
Asics
Release Date: July 12
Release Price: $209 USD
Where to Buy: Kiko Kostadinov
Why You Should Cop: For Kiko Kostadinov’s latest ASICS project, he connected with Laura and Deanna Fanning, the creative directors of his eponymous label, to create the GEL-FLAMMAE. Referencing the GEL-WAHINE II and the GEL-NETBURNER IGS II, the GEL-FLAMMAE builds atop the sole tooling of Kostadinov’s GEL-KIRIL in two colorways of “Gunmetal” and a striking “Mako Blue.” The former combines silver, gray and black with green detailing throughout. As for the “Mako Blue” take, its signature hue is accompanied by hits of silver, aquamarine, gray and black.
Nike Air Max Plus Tiempo “Wolf Grey”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: July 12
Release Price: $190 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Word of Nike remixing its popular Air Max Plus into a football-inspired Air Max Plus Tiempo sent many footy fans into a frenzy. Now, with Martine Rose having included the sneaker in her most recent menswear runway show at Milan Fashion Week, the Air Max Plus Tiempo is poised to make waves this year, with its “Wolf Grey” colorway landing on shelves this week. Its simplified upper arrives in the grey hue while black Swooshes accent it and its signature foldable tongue. From there, an all-black Air Max Plus sole unit supports the shoe.
Field Trip Recordings x ASICS GEL-KAYANO 14
Asics
Asics
Asics
Release Date: July 12
Release Price: $170 USD
Where to Buy: ASICS
Why You Should Cop: Zack Bia’s independent record label Field Trip Recordings has been the subject of not only notable music releases, but footwear and fashion collaborations as well. The brand joined ASICS in 2022 for a GEL-KAYANO 14 limited to a mere 200 pairs and now returns to the model with a wider release of a new green pair. Key details include yellow co-branding at the tongue and black heel counter, while a rich blue covers the entirety of the sole unit.
Rigorer AR1 “Family Ties”
Kicks Crew/Rigorer
Kicks Crew/Rigorer
Kicks Crew/Rigorer
Release Date: July 13
Release Price: $100 USD
Where to Buy: Rigorer and KICKS CREW
Why You Should Cop: Austin Reaves remains with the Los Angeles Lakers as LeBron James and his newly added son Bronny gear up for an exciting season on the team together. While there’s plenty of offseason time remaining, Reaves is back with Rigorer to present a “Family Ties” colorway of the AR1, his first signature shoe. Dedicating the pair to his grandmothers, their favorite colors outfit the court-ready sneaker in a medley of orange, yellow, blue and white while personal touches includes their names listed at the tongues, coming together to commemorate how influential they have been on Reaves.
INVINCIBLE x N. HOOLYWOOD x New Balance 1906U
Dane3fune
Release Date: July 13
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: INVINCIBLE
Why You Should Cop: Taiwan’s INVINCIBLE and Japan’s N. HOOLYWOOD have joined forces with New Balance as a trio many times this decade. Now, they’ve returned to the 1906 silhouette, this time utilizing the 1906U. Its mixed material build ranges from a ripstop to suede, leather and synthetic detailing to craft a unique finish across the shoe’s white and gray presentation. The trio have again kept their version of the shoe clean, sticking to co-branding at just the tongue and sockliner.
