Sneaker collaborations are a time-honored American tradition. In 1934, Converse signed Chuck Taylor as a celebrity endorsement for their sneakers. Taylor went on to collaborate with the brand to develop better soles for the shoes. In the decades since footwear brands have worked with designers, celebrities, artists and athletes to create stylish performance sneakers. These sneaker collabs are at the top of our all-time best list!
Michael Jordan x Nike – 1984
It was clear Michael Jordan was going to be a huge name in basketball already in college. Nike made perhaps the smartest marketing decisions in their history by creating Air Jordan I sneakers for Michael Jordan to wear in his rookie year in the NBA. Although Nike had to pay a $5,000 fee every time Jordan wore the shoes on the court (the shoes didn’t conform to NBA color rules), the brand has earned billions from the iconic sneaker line. Good luck getting your hands on an original pair of Jordans. High Snobiety reported that a pair of Air Jordan I prototypes were put on the market for $50,000 last year.
RUN DMX x Adidas Superstar – 2011
RUN DMC’s collab with Adidas in the mid-80s paved the way for many of the sneaker collabs we see today. The innovative music artists collaborated with the top sneaker designer to create iconic designs. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the group’s iconic adidas sneakers, Adidas released an updated version of the originals in 2011. Pricing on originals and the commemorative sneakers varies wildly.
Reebok x Keith Haring – 2013
The 80s silhouette of Reebok Classic high tops were the perfect backdrop for artist Keith Haring’s iconic designs. The retro inspired design has been a smash hit. These bold sneakers were released as part of Rebook’s FW13 collection. These sneakers are very hard to find and will fetch a few hundred dollars online today.
Fenty Puma by Rihanna – 2018
Puma’s collaboration with Rihanna has been successful all around. The line features athleisure clothing, sneakers, and other gear. The most recent release between the two brands are these Avid sneakers which take cues from both high fashion and the beach! This sneaker collab is hot! Get your hands on your own pair for around $130.
Supreme x Nike – 2002
Skatewear brand Supreme’s skyrocketing success has led to many popular sneaker collabs in recent years. These Supreme Dunk Low Pro Nikes are likely the most popular of them all. Be prepared to shell out 1K or more to own a pair of these sneaks.
Vashtie Air Jordan II – 2010
Less than a decade ago, director Vashtie became the first woman with her own line of Air Jordans. The lavender kicks signaled era in sneaker collabs with female designers and artists. These limited-edition sneakers are hard for even collectors to come by.
Yeezy Adidas Powerphase
Speaking of hard to come by, sneakerheads wanting to purchase their own pair of Yeezys need to have quick fingers. These limited released sneaker collabs hot ticket item sell out FAST. For those who aren’t willing to take their chances on a restock, aftermarket Yeezys can be purchased — usually at a huge mark-up. The Yeezy Boosts 350 sneakers were an enormous hit, but more recently Adidas released the “Core Black” Powerphase sneakers. As of writing, they were sold out on on the Adidas website.
So, do you own any of these designer sneaker collabs? Tag us in a picture on social media. We’d love to take a look! You can also see our article on the Aston Martin x Hogan luxury sneakers here.
