Best Sneaker Collabs of 2017
2017 was a banner year for sneaker collaborations. Brands pulled out all the stops with big name artists, musicians, and retailers to deliver the best product to their customers.
Virgil Abloh, Ronnie Fieg, Kaws, and Tyler, the Creator all got their own sneakers, and they quickly became the hottest products this year. Whether it was something subtle like simply placing a logo on a shoe or letting an artist completely re-design classic sneakers, the impact was felt throughout the sneaker industry, and it’s likely changed things for years to come.
Tyler, the Creator x Converse
Until this year, no one saw Tyler, the Creator wearing something other than Vans, and no one saw him leaving the company to go to Converse. But it happened in 2017, and as Tyler put it, “’Cause Vans fucked up,” later saying to Dazed, “Imagine being in a fucking cocoon. Vans just wouldn’t let me grow. It was a ceiling and I was like, ‘Fuck this.’ Converse is allowing me to bloom, no pun intended, and it’s great.” As strange as it was to see Tyler wear Converse, it made sense. And the company positioned him behind the One Star sneaker, releasing a collection for his album, Flower Boy, with another sneaker having a flower replacing the Star logo on the side of the shoe. Kids bought into the shoe, and it helped drive energy behind Converse and the One Star in a way that the brand hasn’t seen in some time. As strange as it was to see Tyler leave Vans—a brand he helped popularize among his fans—his move to Converse proved that his influence in the sneaker industry is still strong.
Kith x Nike Maestro II
Ronnie Fieg is the king of sneaker collaborations, at least according to Footwear News, who labeled the CEO of Kith as its collaborator of 2017. His biggest project this year, undeniably, was working with Nike on a collection for Scottie Pippen. The range saw Fieg add his magic to two different sneakers from Pippen’s basketball career: The Air Pippen 1 and Air Maestro 2. As he gave the shoes his traditional premium suede treatment, which worked well on this early-’90s basketball silhouette. The shoes came in three colorways: two for the public, one for friends and family that spanned Pippen’s career from the University of Central Arkansas to the Chicago Bulls to the U.S. Men’s National Basketball Team. More importantly, though, was that Scottie Pippen was involved in rolling out the product at Kith’s runway show during NYFW this year. There might not be a high resell price on these shoes, but that doesn’t matter. It’s actually better that way (for once).
Aleali May x Air Jordan I
The first woman to ever get their own Air Jordan collaboration was Vashtie, who received an Air Jordan II in 2010, and 7 years later Aleali May is carrying on that legacy for a new generation. This year, Jordan Brand gave the model her own pair of Air Jordan 1s based off vintage Los Angeles Raiders caps and the Slauson Swap Meet back in the day. The shoes featured corduroy, inspired by the house slippers her uncles bought, and Jordan Brand held a pop-up event for them at Undefeated in L.A., which resembled the Swap Meet and old school mom-and-pop sneaker shops. The sneakers were also available in men’s and grade school sizes, which was a departure from Vashtie’s collaboration with Jordan. Backstory aside, the sneakers held on their own, which is all that mattered.
Skepta x Air Max 97
The Skepta x Nike Air Max 97 was the best example of storytelling with any sneaker collaboration this year. The shoe was inspired by Skepta’s love for Air Max, specifically the Tuned Air Max, as a child, and it was transferred over to the 97, a shoe he has an authentic connection with. On top of that, sneaker writer, historian, and consultant Gary Warnett, who tragically passed away earlier this year, helped Skepta conceptualize this shoe. It was the perfect culmination of Gary’s love and dedication to sneakers, and it was awesome to see Skepta pay tribute to him after his untimely passing. It was a huge year for the Air Max 97 in general, which also included three collaborations from Undefeated and a special pair made for Cristiano Ronaldo that only released in Western Europe.
Atmos x Nike Air Max 1
I remember the first time I saw the Atmos x Nike Air Max 1 in person in 2007 and said to myself, “How did that bastard get these?” I never got a pair back then (nor did many people) but Nike re-released the shoes this year for Air Max Month, and it was a much-welcomed bringback. The science of retroing past collaborations is shaky at best. A lot of people feel these shoes should remain a memory for collectors who were able to get a pair years ago, but some shoes are so good that people aren’t mad at getting a second (or first for many people, let’s be real) chance to cop. This sneaker, based off Elephants bathing in water and the Air Jordan III, has stood the test of time. It’s tough to beat Atmos collaborations on the Air Max 1, and this one is no exception.
Roc-A-Fella x Nike Air Force 1
People tried to tell me that Jay Z and Roc-A-Fella Records didn’t influence people to wear white-on-white Air Force 1s in the early to mid 2000s. And here’s what I say to that: LOL. All jokes aside, there was a big reason to celebrate Roc-A-Fella and Air Force 1s in 2017, namely the fact that Nike brought back the collaboration from 2004 at this year’s ComplexCon. The shoes went on to have a wider release, but they proved to be as good as they were 13 years ago when they were first released. One of the best things about the Roc-A-Fella Air Force 1s is the backstory behind them. Although they first dropped in 2004, they were originally a promo sneaker limited to 100 pairs in 1999. According to Drew Greer, the Nike employee who put the project together, “Once Jay received his pair, he bolted to the office of Def Jam President Lyor Cohen and put his foot on his desk and boasted, 'You don't have any of these,' profiling his crispy white on white Nike Air Force 1 Lows with the official Roc-A-Fella Logo embroidered on the heel." It’s a big time stunt move that only a select few can pull off today.
Tom Sachs x Nike MarsYard 2.0
It’s great to see vintage sneakers get love, even if it means them being reinterpreted in new ways. And Tom Sachs’ collaboration on the MarsYard 2.0 was literally out of this world. The artist and Nike first worked on this sneaker in 2012 and made it out of Vectran fabric from the Mars Rover, which gave the sneaker a cool appeal, but made it unwearable because the fabric literally split at the seams. Nike re-released the shoes this year with mesh, and it instantly became one of the year’s best shoes. Keeping with the space theme, Nike held a special Space Camp in New York City that people had to complete to buy the sneakers. What’s refreshing about these shoes, however, is that they don’t fit the normal hype profile. Sure, they’re designed by a renowned artist, but they’re based off a ‘70s running shoe and are brown, white, and red. That’s why they’re important, though. They’re the connoisseur's sneaker, the shoe that goes unnoticed unless you know the trivial facts or appreciate a bit of history.
N*E*R*D x Adidas Hu Race Trail
The biggest release at ComplexCon this year, hands down, was the collaboration between N*E*R*D and Adidas on Pharrell’s Human Race Trail sneaker. The madness over the shoe was real, and it showed at the two-day convention, with upwards of 300 people breaking through a barrier to try and get their hands on the exclusive sneakers. Pharrell’s work with Adidas has proved some hits and some misses, but this can go down as his most powerful work with the brand so far. It was a dream for his fans that he incorporated N*E*R*D on a sneaker collaboration. This wasn’t the only popular Pharrell x Adidas sneaker this year, though, with the collaboration with Chanel being great, too. But the one that took the cake was the N*E*R*D pair, not just because of the pandemonium around it, but what it meant to the group’s diehard fans.
Kaws x Air Jordan IV
The only thing that was surprising about Kaws doing an Air Jordan was that it took this long for Kaws to do an Air Jordan. But when it was announced that the artist was working on an Air Jordan IV, everyone knew how big the moment was for sneakers and street culture. His artwork was placed on a grey suede upper, with his “XX” replacing the “Nike” on the heeltab. It also came with a glow-in-the-dark outsole. All of those elements built up to one of this year’s best sneakers—collaboration or otherwise. Kaws himself said he wouldn’t wear them, because he didn’t want to have awkward conversations about them on the train. Which is totally commendable. There was also a black pair released on Cyber Monday, which was first believed to be friends-and-family only. But the grey pair was the best and a moment that a lot of people who have been involved in this culture won’t forget for years. Also, proof that sneakers themselves can be art.
Virgil Abloh x Nike "The 10"
Virgil Abloh designed 10! Nike sneakers this year, and it’s hard to pick which one is the best. So let’s take a moment to recognize his collection with Nike and what it meant for sneakers this year. Not only did Abloh put his design aesthetic on each shoe, but he completely deconstructed 10 new and old sneakers, ranging from the Air Jordan 1 to the VaporMax. If you’re asking me, I’d say the Presto was the best of the bunch, but it was proof that rappers and artists have taken over the sneaker space. And word is that the collaboration between the two is going to keep on going in 2018. The most impressive part of Abloh doing all the shoes wasn’t the actual product itself, but the way it was rolled out, with the likes of Drake and Michael Jordan getting their own custom pairs from Virgil. It was an event that no brand could beat.
