Another new year and a new decade. While this past decade was chock-full of hot releases, the next decade promises us another level of sneakers. As this list looks back on the hottest releases of 2019, it also looks ahead to this year, because many of these companies and influencers are not one-hit wonders and are undoubtedly busy churning out new designs for the masses behind the scenes. You might notice a heavy preponderance of shoes produced by the Portland-based heavyweight Nike; that’s because their innovation combined with creativity led to good-looking and comfortable shoes. If adidas was winning before 2017 on the strength of Kanye and Pharrell, Nike is surely winning now due to the resurgence of its Nike SB division, and the people which it chooses to align itself with. Ultimately, this decade also reinforced the trend of brands aligning themselves with entertainers and non-athletes, who possess a desirable quality and energy that they bring to every project.
1. Jordan 1 Retro Travis Scott
The rager himself put his mark on the sneaker landscape with one of the most coveted sneaker models of all time, the Jordan 1. The backward Swoosh initially turned me off, but the hidden stash pocket, subtle details such as the mocha brown and white colors, and the Cactus Jack logo on the panels crown this best shoe of 2019. The Jordan 1 silhouette never seems to stop, with Dior and a 1985-throwback New Beginnings pack planned for this year. Travis also released a Jordan 1 Low, a Jordan 6, and a new Air Force 1 last year. He evidently plans to keep the nonstop energy going, with a React 270, Nike SB Dunk Low, and Jordan 5 planned for this year. Travis Scott is undeniably the man of the moment, with his own merch releases and music causing online pandemonium.
2. Nike LDWaffle sacai Blue Multi
A combination of the LDV and the Waffle Racer, both iconic Nike shoes. Why settle for one of everything, instead of two? The double motif on this shoe, as well as the Blazer (extending to laces, tongues, Swooshes, etc.), crowns this shoe as the hottest new model of 2019. The colorway and the unique EVA-foam protrusion on the midsole is sure to turn heads. Chitose Abe, one of the few woman designers who branched off Rei Kawakubo’s CDG label, has collaborated with Beats by Dre, Undercover, fragment design, A.P.C., but collaborating with Nike demonstrates how appealing her experimental designs can be. Nike being Nike, is planning a release for all-white and all-black colorways, while also unveiling a brand new silhouette called the sacai Nike PEG Vaporfly SP at its F/W 2020 show at Paris Fashion Week, combining the Pegasus and Vaporfly SP runners, featuring a double midsole and new upper parts.
3. Air Vapormax 2019 Cactus Plant Flea Market
Finally emerging from the underground world of fashion, Cactus Plant Flea Market is the LA-based streetwear brand by Cynthia Liu. The toothpaste-like green cord swoosh, big smiley face, and the ubiquitous phrase “Just Do It” emblazoned across the Swoosh complete the sneaker. The friends and family version has rechargeable lights that light up around the sole. CPFM came out with customizable Nike By You Blazer Mids and Air Force 1 Lows, but the Vapormaxes take the cake. Previously, the Vapormax was a model relatively untouched by collaborators, except for Virgil Abloh (Off-White), Rei Kawakubo (CDG), and Edison Chen (CLOT), but CPFM’s version surpasses previous editions. CPFM hasn’t been sitting on its laurels; between collaborating with Human Made, Alpine Star, Kanye West, A$AP Mob, this Nike collaboration guarantees CPFM will be a major player.
4. Nike Mars Yard Overshoe Tom Sachs
After the first and second iteration of the Mars Yard, this shoe was somewhat overlooked when it was released the same day as the Travis Scott Jordan 1. However, this shoe’s unique features such as the nylon reinforced Dyneema waterproof upper, dual Fidlock magnetic buckles, and sticky rubber outsole combine for a space boot that is out of this world. Sachs nicknamed the shoe “March Yard” for wearers to endure wet conditions. Tom Sachs also teased a yellow Croc-like shoe based on the Nike HTM Solarsoft sandal that featured the same utility strap as the Overshoe at his “Tea Ceremony” exhibition in Tokyo. There are rumors of a third version of the Mars Yard shoe with new and improved materials from predecessors, so be on the lookout for that.
5. Nike SB Dunk Low Girls Don’t Cry
Verdy’s brand Girls Don’t Cry experienced an explosion of interest this year. This entirely red shoe with a white butterfly on the tongue and the GDC logo on the heel celebrating Valentine’s Day was first teased at Hypefest 2018, but finally was released this year only in Verdy’s hometown of Osaka, Japan. The Friends and Family pair came in a light silver colorway, limited to around 100 pairs. Verdy Harajuku Day in October successfully bridged East and West by highlighting organic collaborations with Nike SB, Levi’s, Awake NY, Babylon LA, Takashi Murakami, Beats by Dre, Undefeated, Blackmeans, YouthQuake, Magic Stick, and many more.
6. Jordan 5 Retro Trophy Room Ice Blue
Michael Jordan’s son, Marcus Jordan, is the proud owner of the Trophy Room store. The ice blue suede upper, cork insole, and Trophy Room graphic on the heel combine for an iconic take on an iconic shoe. The friends and family colorway came in a bright fire truck-red, recalling the Jordan 4 Retro Toro Bravo. 7000 of the blue pairs were released while only 223 pairs of the red were released.
Michael Jordan’s son, Marcus Jordan, is the proud owner of the Trophy Room store. The ice blue suede upper, cork insole, and Trophy Room graphic on the heel combine for an iconic take on an iconic shoe. The friends and family colorway came in a bright fire truck-red, recalling the Jordan 4 Retro Toro Bravo. 7000 of the blue pairs were released while only 223 pairs of red were released.
7. Vans Bold Ni Rhude
Rhuigi Villaseñor, founder of the breakout ready-to-wear label, Rhude, also debuted his collaboration with Puma featuring 4 different footwear models. First seen in August 2019, the simple but effective black and white paisley colorway with Rhude branded laces celebrates the two brands’ shared connection to the LA skate scene and the ’70s. The Vans Diamo Ni Rhude featured a distinctive multicolored bandana print, similar to one of his first viral garments worn by A$AP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar. The shoes also feature a collapsible heel, another wink to how people casually wear Vans. The Vans later returned in a trio of new colorways (Black, Navy, and Red) that recalls classic license plates (Porsche Carrera, Mercedes 280 SL, and Ferrari 275, respectively). The footwear world should brace itself for another Rhude awakening, with more distinctive paisley colorways unveiled at Paris Fashion Week.
8. Nike Dunk Low Off-White University Red
As Virgil Abloh’s streak continues into the new decade, we must not forget the trifecta of colorways that released at the end of the year, capping off another great year for the man who also released the all-blue Air Force 1 MCA over the summer. Although this is not a Nike SB shoe, the Dunk’s heritage remains unrivaled. Released in Midnight Navy and Pine Green colorways, the University Red recalls the original UNLV-colorway Dunk. He has also been busy releasing a flurry of Women’s running shoes, which include the Terra Kigers, Vapor Street, and the Waffle Racer. He will definitely not slow down in 2020, as he already has unveiled the Jordan 5 Off-White at Paris Fashion Week and the Jordan 1 Canary Yellow and Air Max 90 University Red are rumored to be in the works. The man is definitely one of Nike’s most valuable assets who will continue to make noise.
9. Air Force 1 Low CLOT fragment design
CLOT brought back its Silk Royale tear away layer, revealing a lasered graphic underneath on this shoe after releasing a cream white Air Force 1 in 2018 and a Royal Blue colorway in 2019. The black silk exterior wraps the upper and covers a red embossed interior featuring both CLOT branding and fragment design’s double lightning bolt logo. The Jordan 1 High OG Defiant SB Laker to Chicago, Jordan 1 High OG Defiant SB NYC to Paris, Jordan 1 Low SB QS Lance Mountain Desert Ore/Royal Blue, Jordan 1 Mid SE Fearless CLOT, and the Air Force 1 Low G-Dragon PEACEMINUSONE Para-Noise are all shoes released in 2019 that have hidden layers not visible upon first glance. Another Air Force 1 in a Rose Gold colorway was released this month, capping an incredible run for CLOT founder Edison Chen.
10. New Balance Aime Leon Dore 990 v2
Teddy Santis’ first run-in with the American giant New Balance was a pack of New Balance 997s, one with a pink tongue and another with a yellow tongue, but the second pack (fittingly named Life in the Balance) truly demonstrated the collaborative beauty of ALD and New Balance. Between the 990 v2 and the 990 v5, the v2 steals the show. The white, gray, light blue, dark green, and yellow accents bring ALD’s flair. No wonder the in-store release in Soho got shut down by NYPD. ALD also teased a Porsche collaboration for this year. New Balance has seen a very strong year with partnerships with Kawhi Leonard and Coco Gauff to collaborations with Bodega, Stray Rats, No Vacancy Inn, Engineered Garments.
Honorable Mentions: Bodega New Balance 997S No Days Off, Awake NY ASICS Gel-Kayano 5 360, Reebok Club C 85 JJJJound, Air Force 1 Low Travis Scott Cactus Jack, Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star 70s Hi AMBUSH White, Nike Zoom Vomero 5 A Cold Wall Sail, Palace Salomon Speedcross 4, adidas Superstar Prada, adidas Superstar 80 Blondey McCoy, adidas Yeezy Boost 380 Alien, adidas Yeezy 700 v3 Azael, Nike SB Dunk Low Parra, Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite Flyprint, and Air Max 97 MSCHF x Inri Jesus Shoes.
Be First to Comment