25. Nike Kyrie 1 “All-Star”
With his star beginning to rise, it was incredibly unfortunate to witness Kyrie Irving go down during the NBA Finals, but I’m willing to bet the immensely talented guard returns to form and even surpasses his stellar play from before. That sentiment is also shared for the next silhouette within the Nike Kyrie linage. However, when it comes to his inaugural signature sneaker, Kyrie and Nike made a strong impression within the sneaker industry. With a variety of different iterations, the “All-Star” colorway certainly drew fans’ attention as its tonal makeup and adjacent hues fit perfectly with the NYC themed All-Star game. – Pierce Simpson
24. Air Jordan 11 Low “Playoffs”
The annual 11 Low release the past few summers has become a hugely anticipated drop. After Jordan Brand launched the “Concord” Lows last year, fans of the model (read: everyone) couldn’t wait to see what was in store for 2015. Much like last summer’s 11s, this year’s launch actually incorporated some oft-forgotten history dating back to the shoe’s original 1996 debut. The Black / Varsity Red lows, just like the “Parade” 11s, were an original PE made for Michael. He was spotted at his Flight School camp during the summer of ’96 in the red-lined version that’d eventually release some 19 years later, though many were hoping for the black-lined pair he wore for a first half in the Finals instead. Either way, the “Playoff” 11 Low was a hugely anticipated launch that gave fans a chance to wear one of the most iconic Jordan silhouettes in a summer-ready Low. – Nick DePaula
23. Nike Air Presto “Lightning”
Image via Kith NYC
Long before there was the Roshe Run, there was the Presto. Released in shirt sizing and sporting graphic uppers years before the ZX Flux, the shoe was an early attempt at lifestyle running by the best-known-for-basketball and alway innovative Alpha Project collective.
Instantly impactful, the shoes sold upon initial launch and years later received the retro treatment with Lunar adaptations and other pushes. In 2015, they came back in all their OG glory with drops like the “Lightning” and “Brutal Honey” colorways. These kicks won’t cause campouts, heck they might even go on sale, but they’re pushing forward the forever stuck in the ’90s retro wave while meeting modern fashion on the way. Everybody wins. – Ian Stonebrook
22. VILLA x Wale x ASICS Gel Lyte III “Bottle Rocket”
Having released just in time for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, this drop mixed premium suede detailing with patriotic vibes that surely set off a few fireworks upon its debut. – Gregory Williams
21. Nike KD 7 “What the KD”
Adding yet another new chapter the the storied “What The” motif, the Nike KD 7 “What The KD” combined the elements of 18 different colorways into one eye catching mashup delivery. If you slept on any of the other proper KD 7 colorways, this one surely made up for the loss in a major way. – Gregory Williams
20. J.Crew x New Balance 998
Image via Quarterly Gent
There is a history of magic that happens when menswear curator J.Crew and New Balance connect. This time, both sides collaborated on the fan-favorite 998 in a “Hilltop Blues” colorway as part of Crew’s “In Good Company” release. The combination of sandy brown mesh with navy and brown suede panels made this joint effort one of the best so far. Not to mention, the grey laces, reflective 3M, red accents and overall inspiration of the Big Apple’s neighborhood ballparks. – George Kiel III
19. PALACE x adidas Pro Primeknit
Image via Hypebeast
How real is this? While A$AP acclaim has helped propel PALACE from London skate staple to international ‘it’ brand, their work with adidas has continued to widen their range. Much like the Mob, Palace does a good job of staying true to their roots while representing references that read as cross-cultural and the adidas Pro Primeknit is a perfect example. Blending Samba steeze with Primeknit nuances and half pipe performance, you’ve got a shoe that caters to all while still serving its core customer. – Ian Stonebrook
18. Ronnie Fieg x Diamond x ASICS Gel Lyte V
Image via Kith NYC
Bringing the East and West coasts together in highly anticipated fashion, Ronnie Fieg and Diamond Supply Co. mined a premium retail gem by way the Gel Lyte V. – Gregory Williams
17. Under Armour Curry One “MVP”
You really can’t have a better full season than Stephen Curry just had: All-Star starter. 3-Point contest title. Franchise-best record. MVP. NBA Champ.
On top of all of that, Stephen also had his very first signature sneaker launch, and it’s been smoking out nationwide. While colorways tied to his college, pops and even favorite candy launched throughout spring, it was the celebratory and aptly-dubbed “MVP” colorway of the Under Armour Curry One that ultimately made its mark. With resell prices hitting for as much as four times the retail price, Curry’s dream season was capped off perfectly as he and Under Armour look to make some traction in the ever-competitive hoops landscape. – Nick DePaula
16. Takashi Murakami x Vans Vault Slip-On
photo by Leon Gunera
The Vans Vault x Takashi Murakami capsule collection, one of if not the most anticipated Vans releases of the year, brought some much-needed vibrancy to the summer season. The unparalleled artist incorporated his inimitable, character-themed artwork and Japanese motifs on Vans’ classic silhouette, the Slip-On. All nine of the styles – six adult pairs and three toddler designs – were undeniably great and if that wasn’t enough, the collection came with a matching trio of skate decks and t-shirts. – George Kiel III
15. Nike Kobe X “Fundamental”
Image via Capsule Toronto
Kobe Bryant’s not old, he’s refined. While the man that brought us “Chaos” and “Cheetah” colorways also came on the scene dunking between his legs and sporting Oakley’s at press conferences, Jelly Bean Jr.’s grown up and he’s grown wiser. The “Fundamental” Kobe X speaks to that, going back to basics by doing the right things, not doing too much. As KD and LeBron enjoy their winning streak and feed fans with PB&J and cereal colorways, Kobe and his collectors are low-key banking in elbow jumpers while no one’s watching. – Ian Stonebrook
14. UNDFTD x Bape x adidas Superstar
Image via Wish ATL
Following the “Por Vida” collection release earlier this year, UNDFTD and BAPE connected with adidas once again to unleash two Superstar 80s to match the aforementioned set. Premium leather uppers dominated both Superstars with one dressed in white and the other in black. The royal blue camouflage BAPE lining made for a nice, contrasting element on the white pair, while the black and grey print of the same on the other pair undoubtedly blended nicely. As a great, finishing touch, all three logos were embossed in gold on the base. – George Kiel III
13. Sneaker Freaker x Saucony Grid 9000 “Kushwacker”
Image via Titolo
Sneaker Freaker and Saucony should collaborate more often. In its first joint effort since 2012, the Kushwacker is one of Sneaker Freaker’s best collaborations yet. Their latest appealed to sneakerheads and admirers of, well, other things. The purple suede base was contrasted by mesh underlays, beige foamstripes, 3M hints on the heel and black suede overlays. Oh, and the release came with a complimentary pair of purple KUSH socks. – George Kiel III
12. Nike Air Force 1 High Remastered
Image by Sole Classics via Sole Collector
This towering silhouette may seem too “minimalistic” to many but with the detailed fabrics and precise detailing along the heel tab and inner lining, this model is certainly a gem of 2015. With the growing resurgence of the Nike Air Force 1 High beginning to proliferate, this iteration will surely be amongst the elite of this classic lineage. – Pierce Simpson
11. CNCPTS x New Balance 997 “Luxury Goods”
Image via Hypebeast
CNPTS and New Balance incorporated an imposing, tonal orange base on their February-released 997 dubbed “Luxury Goods.” It also came with a hefty price tag of $235. Yet, you can’t deny it being one of the best sneaker releases of the year, quality-wise. – George Kiel III
10. Just Don x Air Jordan 2
Image via Kenlu
Don C just gets it, simple and plain; he gets it. Whether he’s revolutionizing the game with his luxe, detailed renditions on nostalgic ball caps or placing a spin on in-game NBA short, the designer from Chicago is certainly worth the acclaim as a creator.
So when the collaboration between his budding brand Just Don and the iconic Jordan Brand was finally unveiled, it came as no surprise that it was amazing. Utilizing the quilted blue Chanel bag as a muse, Don would place a unique spin to the Air Jordan 2 and subsequently take the sneaker world by storm. You know you have a hit on your hands when both collegiate players such as Devin Booker and pro players such as Rudy Gay don the silhouette during games. – Pierce Simpson
9. Nike Air Foamposite One “Mirror”
Image via Kith NYC
Sure, the general consensus has been that the Foamposite has lost its luster. After some rough graphic executions of late and the seemingly neverending monthly launches of the model, we saw a relatively more simplified edition shut things down this past February at All-Star Weekend. Debuted by Zach LaVine during Friday’s Rising Stars Challenge, the glossy chrome Foam upper channeled 2001’s chrome Dada CDubbz in the best way possible, and caused an instant rush of higher eBay prices than most everyone was expecting. After losing its way over the past year or two, here’s to hoping that the “Mirror” Foamposite can set the model back on the right track through the rest of 2015. – Nick DePaula
8. Air Jordan 1 “Shattered Backboard”
Image via RCK
The “Shattered Backboard” Air Jordan 1 surprisingly crept up on people during the first half of 2015. At times when you hear sneaker nicknames of this variety, you almost subconsciously dismiss it. However, once you discover the history of the name and then check out the color-blocking scheme of this model, it’s easy to see why it’s a top ten model on our list. – Pierce Simpson
7. Nike Sock Dart #BETRUE
There’s a lot of good going on with the Nike Sock Dart #BETRUE. For quirky collectors, the Sock Dart is a forgotten favorite from the Nike archive, catching co-sign from Fragment Design and riding the casual runner wave opened by the Roshe Run. For the socially conscious, the #BETRUE message is a major moment for equal rights with an amazingly well-timed launch.
In 2010, it was surprising that a performance basketball shoe like the LeBron 8 could cause campouts. In 2015, a sneaker openly celebrating Gay Pride is selling out and it’s being worn by anyone and everyone. Our culture’s certainly come a long way. – Ian Stonebrook
6. adidas Ultra Boost
Say what you want, but Kanye rocking the adidas Ultra Boost during a surprise performance at the United Center during a Bulls game certainly helped the profile of this model. However, prior to that scenario taking place, this stellar adidas creation was certainly a favorite amongst diehard sneaker enthusiasts. With its array of design innovations such as adidas’ patented Boost technology combing the outsole, this model boasts a streamline makeup complimented by adidas’ Primeknit composition canvasing the upper. All in all, it’s easy to see why adidas makes a viable case for MVP of 2015. – Pierce Simpson
5. Colette x ASICS Gel Lyte III
Reimagining one of ASICS’ most popular runners, Colette literally connected the dots in signature fashion with this Gel Lyte III offering. From its premium two-tone leather base to the bevy of polka dots dressing its entire build, this drop certainly added a fashionable spin to the runner’s 25th anniversary run. – Gregory Williams
4. adidas Yeezy Boost 350
No matter what you thought of the polarizing Yeezy Boost 350’s design, the anticipation and ensuing madness to get a pair in late June was precisely the kind of launch date frenzy that adidas hoped for when they officially partnered with Kanye West in late 2013. With a release perfectly lined up to dominate summer, the shoe has been spotted on everyone from style icons to adidas’ entire NBA roster to even LeBron’s right-hand man Maverick Carter. It was even placed as a must-have fashion item — for women — by Vogue.
It’s the most widely released Yeezy model ever — and despite what Matt Powell might think — the 350 eventually crashed every website, flew out in seconds, and was surely one of the most sought out sneakers of the year from collectors to even casual sneaker buyers. Kanye’s influence is as strong as ever, and most definitely here to stay. – Nick DePaula
3. NikeLab Kobe X HTM
When Hiroshi Fujiwara, Tinker Hatfield and Mark Parker link up for a shoe design, expect greatness. The latest collaboration between these three featured three splendid, upscale versions of the Kobe X – all representative of the Black Mamba’s on-court skill. Two of the greatest aspects of all three came in the form of the two different sets of screw-in aglets in metallic finish and the Nike Free-inspired flex grooves along the outsole. – George Kiel III
2. Air Jordan 1 “Chicago”
Image via Wish ATL
Even though the “Chicago” 1 has released in a couple variations in recent years, you’d literally have to go back more than 20 years to 1994 to find a version that Air Jordan fans were truly pleased with. Thankfully, the 2015 edition — a 30th anniversary launch — was executed with more care and attention to detail than most recent Retros. The leather was commendable. The silhouette nearly spot on to the original. A “Nike Air” woven tongue label was finally included, and even the box was perfectly put together. While everyone would’ve liked to see more pairs release, it was a great sign of what’s to come for the brand to see a shoe that everyone had been after all this time be finished off so well. Well done, JB. – Nick DePaula
1. adidas Yeezy Boost 750
The stakes were sky high for Kanye West and adidas’ design debut and some would say the road was rocky. The shoe’s unofficial Instagram unveiling saw more memes than must-cop comments, popping up in the Friday night funnies. However, the tide turned over the course of that Grammy weekend when the star studded seeding list was unveiled and a cozy Kanye performed in them on stage. Like every Kanye kick before, was the celebrity co-sign the selling point or was the design simply that good?
Over time, it appears that the design was simply that good. Sidelining sampling in favor of function and genre bending, the adidas Yeezy Boost 750 is new in a world of retro, a balanced blend of sport and luxury, and yes, still not for everyone. In Kanye’s quest to democratize fashion, will he soon release a shoe that’s truly for everyone? He’s made a career out of quieting critics, we’re excited to see what’s next. – Ian Stonebrook
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