With 2018 just around the corner, YoMzansi Sneakers rounds up the 25 best sneaker drops of the year [ONLY THOSE RELEASED AT LOCAL RETAILERS].
Check out the selections below of the 25 Best Sneaker Releases of 2017, and keep it locked more info on future sneaker drops.
20. KARHU Synchron Classics
Introduced later this year by Anatomy, KARHU, meaning “bear” in Finnish, is a leading running brand in Europe and has provided technical running and outdoor gear for 100 years. With an authentic heritage in running and a deep connection to the outdoors, KARHU follows the Finnish principles of design simplicity and running purity. KARHU shoes have been worn on the feet of the greatest Finnish runners, including Boston Marathon champion Olavi Suomalainen and Olympic champ Paavo Nurmi.
19. NikeLab Flyknit Trainer “Cookies & Cream”
The classic Nike Flyknit Trainer is made a comeback in its OG white/Black colorway. One of the brand’s most popular Flyknits, the stylish and performance shoe features a clean and simple black/white color scheme across its flyknit upper, flywire cables, sock-like ankle collar and signature sole to complete the timeless look altogether.
18. Tyler, The Creator x Converse One Star “Le Fleur” Collection
Designer and hip-hop artist Tyler, the Creator kicked-off his relationship with Nike-owned Converse this year, for an ongoing sneaker collaboration. So far we have seen two collection drops, which didn’t even take time to sell out.
17. Nike Air More Uptempo “Triple Black”
With a bunch of Nike Air More Uptempo’s that have released this year, the “Triple Black” reflective takes it because of the simple use of black and super-sleek minimalist design.
16. Bodega x Saucony Grid 8000 “Classifieds”
Boston’s Bodega and Saucony teamed up to drop a special edition Saucony Grid 8000 inspired by the times when we would have to use the classifieds to find our next job. As a nod to spending time job hunting, the Saucony Grid 8000 features Bodega’s custom classifieds graphics on the tongue and insoles. Dressed in a mix of Yellow, Black and Red hues to represent the ’90s sportswear.
15. ALIFE x Starcow x adidas Consortium Sneaker Exchange
adidas Consortium paired New York City’s Alife and Paris-based retailer Starcow together for the Sneaker Exchange 2017 fully knowing that both partners would dig deep into their huge wealth of knowledge and experience to create a sneaker pack. Together, Alife and Starcow present a suede Gazelle and leather Stan Smith – two style staples stripped right back to the basics.
14. Nike Air Zoom Generation “First Game”
Made a debut later this year, Nike Air Zoom Generation First Game, the exact colorway that LeBron James wore during his first NBA game in 2003. Comes dressed in its original White, Varsity Crimson and Black color scheme. Built with Nike’s sphere liner, heel Max Air unit and forefoot Zoom Air, with a fully sleeved tongue.
13. Raised By Wolves x Reebok Classic Leather Ripple Gore-Tex Pack
It is very rare to receive something so dope from Reebok, and this Raised By Wolves x Reebok Classic Pack remains one of the best in this year’s books.
12. Pharrell x adidas NMD Hu Trail
For the past couple of months, Pharrell Williams has been spotted wearing various colorways of the adidas NMD Human Race, with a new trail-inspired rubber outsole. Finally, last month the Three Stripes offered fans a chance to cop this NMD Hu Trail, released in four colorways.
11. adidas Yeezy PowerPhase “Grey”
People criticized Kanye about these Calabasas Adidas sneakers that look like the Reeboks. Little do you all know that Adidas OWNS Reeboks. The first colorway to hit local retailers was the “Grey” colorway, featuring the signature ‘Calabasas’ logo in gold lettering on the side, perforated Three Stripes, and toecap, with adidas branding, also spotted on the sides, insole and outsole.
10. adidas Consortium – NEIGHBORHOOD x INVINCIBLE
Closing-off 2017, this is touted as one of the best adidas NMD releases of the year is this simplistic design created by Taiwan’s premier boutique Invincible cult Taiwanese retailer INVINCIBLE.
Boasting an all-black upper with tonal detailing, the focal point of the runner is the souvenir-style embroidery on its heel, taking cues from Japanese sukajan jackets. The shoe also offers co-branding on the tongue pulls, and Chinese characters on the heel tab and branded insoles. Speckled laces complement the monochrome sneaker, which also features co-branding on the midsole.
9. Nike Air Force 1 Low “Statement Game” Pack
In celebration of Nike’s new partnership with the NBA and 35 years of the Air Force 1, the swoosh introduced the all-new AF-1 Low NBA. The silhouette features tumbled leather upper accented with a nylon tongue and AF-1 branded tongue tabs. The perforated toe box provides added breathability while the flat cotton laces with all-over Nike branding ensure added style. Featured on the side panels are enlarged Swoosh logos which provide a different spin from the typical AF-1 Swoosh. Other elements include – the embroidered AF-1 heel branding, the NBA heel tab logo, all atop a comfortable rubber Air sole unit.
8. Nike Air Max 1 x Atmos Elephant
Voted winner of Nike’s 2016 “Vote Back” campaign, which essentially allows fans to vote and bring back one iconic Air Max silhouette from the past 29 years — The Nike Air Max 1 x atmos Elephant made a comeback during the Air Max month.
7. Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Royal’
Last released back in 2013, The highly anticipated Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Royal’ made a huge comeback this year and it was a super win for the Jordan Brand.
6. Nike Air Max 97 OG ‘Silver Bullet’
This late-1990s style defines the era of big design with a futuristic approach. With its reflective fluid lines and silvery tone inspired by Japan’s bullet trains, and its early venture into full-length Max Air cushioning, this shoe continues to turn heads.
5. Tom Sachs x Nike Mars Yard 2.0
Back in May 2012, Nike and artist Tom Sachs partnered to release the NikeCraft Mars Yard, a shoe inspired by Sachs’ interactions with NASA’s highly specialized scientists and designed as high-performance equipment for the building of his SPACE PROGRAM 2.0: Mars exhibition.
Just five years later, the NikeCraft Mars Yard shoe relaunched in 2.0 form with a material update informed by Sachs’ long-term trial of the original that revealed an unknown.
4. Nike Air Force 1 Low “Travis Scott”
Nike selected collaborators who are impacting future generations across culture, including Travis Scott – as part of the AF100 Campaign. Their brief was filtered through the white on white lens.
When Travis Scott was asked to create his own AF-100 design, one of the first things he expressed was wanting to incorporate his status as the ‘acid of rap.’ This idea immediately led the design team to think of ways to take the classic and trip it out.
On stage, the icon shines bright, reflecting all the hustle and hard work he’s dedicated to his craft. His exuberant energy comes through in the form of multi-color reflective detailing, while removable Swoosh logos and velcro patches further reflect both the calm, collected and energizing personas he embodies. An upside-down Nike logo on the heel and Gum rubber outsoles complete the design.
3. adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Black Red’
Kicking off the 2017 YEEZY line-up was the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Bred’ without any stripe across, dressed in Black and Red color scheme.
For us this the best Yeezy Boost 350 V2 colorway for 2017.
2. UNDEFEATED x Nike Air Max 97 ‘Black’
While the culture-shifting Air Max 97 turns 20, LA sneaker boutique Undefeated celebrates 15 years as a cultural influencer.
In celebration, the two parties combined forces for an Air Max model that neatly ties together a shared, future-focused ethos.
For its collaboration, UNDFTD gave the Air Max 97 a luxury twist — not in material, but in direct ode to Italian fashion. Just as the shoe represents two anniversaries, the conceit works two times over. First, it pays homage to a nation that championed the silhouette from the start, and second, it nods to the intersection of high and low that’s been a staple of streetwear for generations.
1. Skepta x Nike Air Max 97 Ultra
Skepta’s exclusive Nike Air Max 97 Ultra ’17 is one of this year’s best releases – the collaboration is inspired from Skepta’s home of Morocco, as well as the palette of the 1999 Air Tuned Max.
Throughout the sneaker you’ll find intricate details such as its “Sk” logo which pays homage to the Air Max TN plus braided embroidery along the model, reflecting sportswear found in Morocco during Skepta’s own travels. The upper features an iridescent, polyutherane-coated, copper/rose gold hue in leather mixed with black mesh and an HF weld of the Swoosh logo, instead of the traditional embroidery.
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