Now that 2018 is officially in the books, it is time to present to you my list of the top 10 sneakers released in 2018. Some of these shoes have already been discussed in previous articles so I will not being going into too much detail.
I can already tell what you’re thinking. Most of this list is composed of shoes from the Swoosh. I can assure you that the Beaverton behemoth has not paid me in any way for this article. Nike simply did the best job at creating the best shoes. Nike cemented its place at the top and its cultural legacy in 2018 and did the most to change the game, constantly pushing the boundaries, all within a busy 12 months. Below are the shoes that had us yelling, “Checks over Stripes.” I can already tell you that making this list was incredibly difficult. Nevertheless, here goes.
1. Jordan 1 Retro High Union Los Angeles Blue Toe
The contrasting uppers and lowers catch the eye immediately. Then you notice the way the bright yellow stitching holds the shoe together. The dual color laces are a nice finishing touch. The best part might not even be visible: the thick leather is a throwback to vintage Jordans produced more than two decades ago. The founder of Union LA, Chris Gibbs, said it was meant to look like a kid stitched together two of his/her favorite sneakers. Gibbs’ concept of a vintage customized Jordan takes the cake for 2018 and truly celebrates DIY culture and vintage hunting. The other colorway, Black Toe, is phenomenal as well with bright blue stitching.
2. Jordan 1 Retro High Off-White White
Virgil Abloh. Jordan 1. Instant classic. The irony is that even if this shoe released last year as it could have except for a last-minute decision, this shoe would have still belonged on my top 10 list. Limited to a European release, all of Abloh’s immediately distinguishable design features appear on the shoe: the deconstructed Swoosh, the writing in quotes, the zip-tie. The shoe even made it to a Paris runway, breaking down the barrier between streetwear and high fashion. The iconic Chicago colorway will always be the best but Abloh’s tonal blocking comes close to recreating that same awe.
3. Nike React Element 87 Sail Light Bone
First unveiled at Undercover’s Paris Fashion show in March, the React Element 87 is undoubtedly the best silhouette of the year, although Nike quickly managed to kill the hype by releasing so many colorways and even introducing a low-cost version, React Element 55. If you look on the periodic table, the 87th element is Francium, the most explosive or reactive element. The translucent upper and React cushioning combined with the deconstructed build managed to counter the dad shoe trend and retain breathability and comfort. This photogenic shoe fits with anything and proves that React is the future.
4. Air Max 1/97 Sean Wotherspoon
More Air! Have a Nike Day! Sean Wotherspoon stole the show on Air Max Day 2018 with his signature shoe coming with a corduroy upper. His unique taste and sincere love of vintage shines through this shoe. Stay tuned for more moves by Sean Wotherspoon not just in the sphere of footwear but in streetwear as he expands his popular resale outlet, Round Two.
5. Jordan 4 Retro Travis Scott Cactus Jack
Travis Scott had a breakout year in 2018 from having the #1 album in the country, Astroworld, to having a baby girl, Stormi Webster, with billionaire social media influencer Kylie Jenner. However, no one could have foreseen the Jordan Brand cosign so quickly after the release of his Air Force 1 Low in 2017. Paying homage to his hometown team, the Houston Oilers, Travis Scott’s Jordan 4 in blue suede and paint splatter induced well-deserved hysteria when first shown, which continued until the actual release. Replacing the Nike and Jordan Brand logo with his own Cactus Jack logo was a bold move that paid off. Rumors of a Travis Scott Jordan 1 seen at his concerts will release sometime this year.
6. adidas Futurecraft 4D Daniel Arsham
Arsham’s foray into the footwear scene began with an ordinary sneaker but his latest shoe equipped with adidas’ state-of-the-art 4D technology blew me away. As the sole (no pun intended) adidas shoe on this list, Arsham achieves the full potential of the revolutionary 4D midsole. The monochromatic green color scheme and unbelievably clean packaging presents itself as another unforgettable vision for the future.
7. Jordan 3 Retro Seoul
Look it’s a True Blue! Look it’s a White Cement! Wait, it’s something different! Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul, these shoes proudly show the South Korean flag on the tongue with Korean phrases on the other side — small details that translate into something very important. It’s nice to see an international brand give something special to a specific market, especially in Asia. Limited to under 1000 pairs, this Jordan 3 will stand the test of time. Adidas tried to pull a similar move with the adidas Ultraboost 4.0 Seoul 1988, but it doesn’t look nearly as good as the Jordan. Nice try though.
8. Air Fear of God 1 Black
I’ve been waiting for a great Nike basketball shoe for a while now and this is definitely it. Nike Basketball peaked in the early 2000s, so seeing a brand new silhouette in the Air Fear of God 1 is a welcome sight. Its high retail price of $350 might not see it on or off the court that often; nevertheless, this performance-oriented basketball sneaker is sure to make waves beyond 2018. The double stack Zoom Air unit and TPU midfoot cage come together for a sleek, simple silhouette. The lifestyle version of the shoe, the Air Fear of God Shoot Around, is alright but not comparable to the Air FOG 1. Love it or hate it, its focus on performance while not compromising on style will have us talking for a long time.
9. Nike SB Dunk Low Diamond Supply Co Canary
So begins the comeback of the Nike SB Dunk. This shoe lives up to the hype of the original Diamond Supply Co. Tiffany more than a decade ago. The bright yellow colorway of the most recent one is sure to break necks. Beginning with the riot at ComplexCon and ending with a jewelry store pop-up in LA’s Diamond District, the Canary Dunks are truly something special. Two other colorways, black and white, were released nationwide but the yellow stands out.
10. Jordan 1 Retro High SoleFly Art Basel Sail
It was no surprise this year that the SoleFly Jordan 1 caused a riot in Miami after the release of the Igloo and Rust Pink Jordan 1 colorways back in 2017 caused a riot as well. What was surprising was that the South Florida sneaker boutique managed to come out with another iconic shoe in addition to the SoleFly Jordan 3. There were two versions: smooth leather and patent leather. My favorite is the white-based orange pair with smooth leather although the patent leather black pair goes crazy as well. Both are inspired by Miami and SoleFly did a great job in color-blocking like OG Jordans, appealing to both celebrities and sneakerheads.
Honorable Mentions: Jordan 4 Retro Levi’s Denim, Air Max 1 Parra, Jordan 1 Retro High Nigel Sylvester, Air Force 1 Low Travis Scott Sail, Air Force 1 Low A-Cold-Wall* White, adidas Yeezy 500 Blush, and New Balance 990v3 JJJJound
Be First to Comment