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Sneaker collaborations used to be something truly special that only few persons, shops, or brands were given the opportunity to participate. Fast forward to 2014 and you'll see any number of collaborative projects releasing nearly every week. Aside from the hype factor that collabs tend to be associated with today, they serve more than the purpose of merely looking good on your feet—they're also canvases for brands or collaborators to tell a story, however simple or complicated it may be.
From freshly revived brands like Diadora to highly lauded fashion designers behind Public School, given the sheer amount of collabs in the past year, we cherry picked the very best based on numerous factors such as cultural significance, aesthetic appeal, and design. A truly successful collaboration is something that's unlike anything else on the market and sparks a conversation among sneakerheads. With that being said, we bring you The 15 Best Sneaker Collaborations of 2014.
15.Public School x Air Jordan 1
Released: July
For those unfamiliar with NYC-based clothing label Public School, you might want to play catch up. Founded in 2008, designers Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne's cutting edge fashion brand has gained significant momentum the last couple of years, leading up to the brand winning the highly coveted CFDA Swarovski Award for Menswear in June 2013. So when we found out Jordan Brand would be collaborating with the designers on its very own Jordan 1, we were naturally stoked. Keeping to Public School's minimal aesthetic, they kept the suede and leather uppers all black atop a grey speckled midsole, and round things out with ice-cold bottoms. Although the Public School-branded version was friends and family only, the release iteration saw a couple of changes but didn't make them any less coveted. — Daniel So
14.Patta x Diadora N9000 “AC Milan”
Released: June
One of the most niche but exiciting stories of 2014 was the reemergence of Diadora, and it's largely in thanks to the bring back of the N.9000 model. The Italian footwear brand is largely known for its contributions to soccer and tennis thanks, to the Bjorn Borg signature sneakers, but this retro runner caught the imaginations of collectors who had grown tired of the same few silhouettes getting re-released and reworked by every boutique. The first shop that got a crack at collabing on the N.9000 was Amsterdam's Patta. In total, it put out three different versions, but the best was the one that made use of AC Milan's colors. Using the theme of the club's lauded “no.9 strikers,” the sneakers had a black-and-red colorway with a gumsole and the number nine on the heel. They were made in Italy, retailed for $200, and connected with anyone who wanted a good colorway or solid storyline. It was also nice to see another brand jump into the runner crowd and make an impact. — Matt Welty
13.size? x Nike Air Max 93 “Metals Pack”
Released: May
It was supposed to be a triumphant bring back of the Air Max 93. 2013 had seen a few collaborations on the model thanks to UK retailer size?, before the re-release of the sneaker's O.G. colorways. While it's still possible to grab those retros well below retail price right now, size?'s “Metals Pack" of the 93 led everyone to believe that 2014 was going to be a monster year for the silhouette. It contained two makeups: one that resembled the “Bacon” Air Max 90s and another that made use of a few shades of grey. Depending on who you talk to, they'll have a different favorite from the collection. But one thing is for certain: When size? works with Nike, don't expect the outcome to be half-assed, and it's going to reference the best elements of sneaker history. — Matt Welty
12.Commonwealth x ASICS Gel Lyte V
Released: September
Commonwealth has been in the game for 10 years now and still remains at the forefront of streetwear and sneakers. We saw a slew of boutiques teaming up with ASICS for Gel Lyte V collaborations this year, but the Virginia-based shop’s offering proved to be one that was just out of this world, literally. Commonwealth approached the opportunity from an astrological standpoint and went with a theme based on the Gemini constellation. The runner’s designed with a two-toned dark navy upper that utilizes a full-grain premium leather and suede. At first glance, it looks like your typical runner with standard paneling, but there’s more to the story here. The sneakers appear identical, but the left and right shoes in the set are strategically mismatched with inverse leather and suede panels. Commonwealth reached for the stars with this collaboration—and, well, it worked. — John Marcelo
11.Footpatrol x Nike Huarache Light
Released: July
One of London's best known sneaker retailers, Footpatrol first opened its doors in 2002 and has been a destination for 'heads around the world since. From stocking the most desirable footwear to having a Tier Zero account under its thumb, it's no surprise that the retailer has been blessed with yet another exclusive Nike collaboration, this time on its Huarache Light silhouette. Unlike most collabs we've seen throughout the year, this makeup of the classic runner is kept super subdued in a two-tone grey “concrete” colorway accented by matching speckled midsoles. The end result is one of the cleanest colorways of this silhouette we've ever seen, and when you add in the fact that they're individually numbered out of 500 pairs, you'll see why this is a truly special project. — Daniel So
10.Concepts x New Balance 997 “Rosé”
Released: November
Concepts spent its first 18 years in business on Brattle Street in Cambridge, Mass., worlds away from the retail mecca that is New York City. In 2014 that all changed, with the shop opening its NYC location, a permanent store that would host rotating pop-up experiences linked to sneaker releases. The first one up was a Made in USA pair of New Balance 997s done-up for the celebratory occasion. Titled the “Rose,” the $235 runner had a pink suede upper and a 3M croc-print tongue. It was a bold move for Concepts to set up in rival territory, and it was even bigger to do it with a mostly pink sneaker. The sneaker, however, brought out the big names in New York City's sneaker scene at its launch party, and caused a subsequent line-up on release day. As impactful as this release was, mainly for the future landscape of New York City sneaker boutiques, it wasn't even Concepts' biggest release of 2014. It was just the perfect way to say, “Hey, New York, we're here.” — Matt Welty
9.fragment design x Air Jordan 1
Released: December
The Air Jordan 1 is perhaps the model where ‘heads tend to pay extra attention to the quality of the leather material. With all the talk about the upcoming remastered Air Jordan lineup, it was only right for the high-top 1 to be the debut sneaker from the new initiative. And what better way to bring back O.G. quality than with a special edition sneaker with long-time Nike collaborator and streetwear legend Hiroshi Fujiwara and his fragment design label? Done up in a white base with black and royal blue paneling, the color scheme of the sneaker is familiar with nods to the “Black Toe” and “Royal” 1s. Complete with O.G. “Nike Air” branding and fragment design’s double lightning bolt mark and you’ve automatically got one of the most coveted pair of Js. And just like everything else the Japanese creative touches, you can expect these Air Jordan 1s to be met with much fervor from his cult-like following and even casual sneakerheads. — John Marcelo
8.Supreme x Nike Foamposite One
Released: April
Arguably one of the most notorious sneaker drops of the year, Supreme's iteration of the Nike Foamposite One is special for many reasons. The streetwear brand laced the basketball sneaker in a gold accented, Versace-inspired graphic print in two colorways, giving hypebeasts everywhere an anxiety attack on trying to cop. The release was so anticipated and hyped up that for the first time in the store's history, the police were called in and ordered Supreme not to sell the sneakers due to public safety concerns. Things got so out of hand that when customers tried to rush the doors at Supreme they were maced by police officers. The sneakers later ended up releasing online-only the following day, disappointing overnight campers and angering the mobs that had formed early on release day. — Daniel So
7.Ronnie Fieg x ASICS Gel Lyte V “Sage”
Released: August
2014 was a big year for Ronnie Fieg. It saw him setup multiple pop-up shops across the globe and expand his SoHo retail location. It also saw Fieg focus more and more on his brand's clothing options. Admist all of this, he found some time to design his sought-after sneaker collaborations, too. Known for his prolific and early releases with ASICS, this year saw him once again link up with the brand, but this time on the Gel Lyte V. Three of the four GLVs that he released were call backs to previous Ronnie Fieg x ASICS collabs, but the “Sage” was something new and fresh, much like its name suggests. The upper featured multiple shades of green suede, and it was accented by a pinkish sole. It was a powerful color combination, and it once again separated Fieg and Kith from the list of other stores who work on similar products. While much of Fieg's sneakers in 2014 focused on new takes of his past hits, the “Sage” can be added to his litany of future classics. — Matt Welty
6.adidas Pharrell x adidas Stan Smith
Released: September
adidas already won when it landed Kanye West. When the Three Stripes added Pharrell to its loaded roster of non-athletes, it added one of the biggest influencers with a well-established reputation for pushing creative boundaries. Pharrell quickly showed off his new-found allegiance and literally put his mark on the Three Stripes with his own custom Stan Smith sneakers, which included hand-painted iterations and even a pair flooded with Swarovski crystals. The first year of the partnership would result in three collections, the “Solids,” “Tennis,” and “Polka Dot” packs, where each one utilized the Stan Smith model. The vintage tennis sneaker was the perfect choice what with its minimal design and classic look. The iconic clean white sneaker was turned upside down and highlighted everything we already knew about Pharrell: bright, bold, and cool. — John Marcelo
5.Riccardo Tisci x Nike Air Force 1 “Vachetta Tan”
Released: October
Fashion designer Riccardo Tisci is a self-professed AF1 fan, claiming to have worn the shoe for over 15 years. As more and more fashion houses like Margiela, Saint Laurent, and Céline channel old-school sneaker silhouettes, Nike partnering with Tisci signified the sports-first giant's move into the luxury market. This was a shoe you weren't buying for performance, you were buying it for the aesthetic. While the black and white colorways were no less popular than the Vachetta Tans, they're notable for the intent behind them—ushering a new tribe of converts to the fashion sneaker cult. — Jian DeLeon
4.Pigalle x Nike Air Raid “Oxblood”
Released: September
Paris-based fashion label Pigalle has become more than just a niche streetwear brand since its inception in 2008. Thriving on exclusivity and numerous co-signs from then up-and-coming rapper A$AP Rocky, the label caught worldwide attention over the next couple of years and eventually landed on Nike’s radar. Pigalle's core aesthetic is inspired by founder Stephane Ashpool's love for all things basketball so it shouldn't come as a shock that they collaborated on the Air Raid, a basketball sneaker first launched in 1992 designed specifically “for outdoor use only,” or, more specifically, street ball. Pigalle's oxblood take on the Raid showed its ability to turn an athletic sneaker into a high-end casual shoe that would work with much more than just basketball shorts and jerseys. It was a natural synergy for both brands and should remain as one of the most distinctive collabs of 2014. — Daniel So
3.Concepts x adidas Stan Smith
Released: October
In a year when collaborations threatened to become the most prevalent sort of sneaker around, it took an awful lot to make one stand out. And no one made their collaborations stand out more than Concepts, the Cambridge, Mass. boutique which expanded to a NYC permanent pop-up location this year. Their finest work by far was their take on the Stan Smith, an engineered mesh, inner-bootied re-invention that—even in the Year of the Stan Smith—shed new light on the venerable design. The purple and green accents added a traditional Wimbledon touch, but the overall result was a shoe even more cozy and wearable than even adidas' own Primeknit Stan. If adidas doesn't turn out their own, more basic versions of this updated silhouette, they're crazy. Mustache optional. — Russ Bengtson
2.Supreme x Nike Air Force 1
Released: October
Although not the first time Supreme has collaborated on the Air Force 1 silhouette, it is, however, the first time they've made a collaboration truly feel like a sneaker made for New York City. Taking on the three staple colorways of 2014 (white, black, and all-red), Jebbia and crew reworked the AF1 Hi to incorporate Supreme's “world famous” branding and integrated luxe details like a pebbled leather swoosh and patent leather heel accents highlighting the brand's 20th anniversary with a bolded “94.” The irony with the whole release is that although these were truly a NYC sneaker, they never ended up dropping at Supreme's NY location due to "unforeseen circumstances," aka hypebeast fuckery. — Daniel So
1.Lance Mountain x Air Jordan 1
Released: June
Despite its stereotypical Asian undertones (wonder what Jeff Ho and Shogo Kubo [RIP] would say about that), 1987's The Search for Animal Chin was a seminal skate film that's a cult classic for the same reasons B-Boys look back at Breakin'. By the late-'80s, skaters looking for shoes that provided the padding they needed to ride pools or vert ramps had co-opted Jordan 1s. They're plentiful in the film, from Breds to Black/Royals, and yes, Lance Mountain skates the shit out of them. This collaboration celebrated the Jordan 1's second life as a skate shoe in the best way possible, covering the two most coveted colorways in solid paint that could be chipped off over time—sort of like the Margiela Converses, but with way more ankle support and legacy. — Jian DeLeon