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It’s been a rather lacklustre start to the year in the world of sneakers. Sure, the ‘metallic blue’ Air Jordan 1 Low '85 quenched the desires of the hardcore Jordan devotees, and Salehe Bembury sparked interest with a new New Balance project, but following such a strong end to ‘23 (see: the Travis x Nike Attacks, the Powerpuff Dunks, the Fear of God Athletics collection), January ‘24 felt somewhat... soleless.
The good news is that the sneakerverse hasn't lost its footing; this uninspired beginning isn't, by any means, a reflection on the rest of the year. On the contrary, the next few months are gearing up to be some of the strongest in sneaker history. So, we suggest you start saving: a) your money, and b) a nice amount of room on your shoe rack.
What, you ask, is the reason for this impending wave of goodness? Good question.
Moses Rashid, founder of sneaker marketplace The Edit Ldn, reckons it has much to do with the big players reclaiming their place in the top flight from the gorpcore labels. “Where more functional brands took centre stage in 2023, 2024 is set to be the year that Jordan etc. get back on track,” he writes over email.
Another factor at play: there are some special anniversaries to celebrate, including the 40th anniversary of the Adidas Forum, the 35th anniversary of the Air Jordan 4 and the 25th anniversary of the Air Zoom Drive.
Plus, we're reaching the apex of some of this era's hottest collabs, such as Wales Bonner x Adidas, Jacquemus x Nike, and Jordan x Travis Scott, the latter of which is scheduled to drop its first original silhouette, the 'Jumpman Jack', by the end of the year.
And that's not to mention the new collabs officially launching this year, like Nigo x Nike and Edison Chen x Adidas.
It's all terribly exciting stuff.
Here are the 30 of the biggest releases of 2024.
LaMelo Ball x Puma MB.01 ‘Iridescent’
Puma and LaMelo Ball (the idolised Point Guard of the Charlotte Hornets) bring a cherry blossom shade of pink to their very first and most popular basketball silhouette, the MB.01.
Release date: Out now
Bape Sta Patent Leather Pack
The ultimate Y2K shoe returns to its classic form for early '24, and this time round its constructed from patent leather.
Release date: Out now
Nike Dunk Low 'City of Love'
Say 'I Love You' with sneakers this Valentine's Day by gifting bae a pair of the Red Thread of Fate-inspired Dunk Lows.
Release date: Out now
Air Jordan 4 'Bred Reimagined'
Another OG Jordan release coming our way in the near future is the Air Jordan 4 'bred'. This one is being released under Jordan Brand's 'Reimagined' line that focuses on putting vintage spins on the classics.
Rumoured release date: Out now
Nocta Air Zoom Drive
Drake's Nike sub-line, Nocta, isn't going anywhere. In fact, 2024 is shaping up to be its best year yet! Case in point: this super clean upcoming remix of 1999's Air Zoom Drive sneaker.
Rumoured release date: Out now
C.P. Company x Asics Gel-Quantum 360 VIII
First previewed at Paris Fashion Week Men's in mid-Jan, this collaborative kick gets the thumbs up from the beau monde.
Rumoured release date: Out now
Nike Air Pegasus 2K5
Off the heels of last year's sought-after CDG Homme Plus x Nike Air Pegasus 2005 drop, Nike is revisiting the noughties silhouette, even giving it a shiny new name: the Nike Air Pegasus 2k5.
Rumoured release date: Out now
SHOP
Axel Arigato Dice Laceless Sneaker
One of Axel Arigato's most-wanted trainers loses the laces this year. The result? A sleek, streamlined flex.
Release date: Out now
Edison Chen x Adidas Superstar
And here's a kick first unveiled at Shanghai Fashion Week in autumn '23 – the Edison Chen x Adidas Superstar. It's the first instalment of what's set to be a long-time collab between the Clot founder and the sportswear giant.
Rumoured release date: Out now
Nike ACG Air Exploraid
Is gorpcore dead? Nike ACG says no. To keep up the momentum, the outdoorsy sub-line is reissuing 1999's Air Exploraid, and doesn't it look tempting.
Release date: Out now
Air Jordan 5 'Olive'
On the topic of the 2000s, the Air Jordan 5 'olive' is being reissued for the first time since 2006. Obviously, we're after a pair.
Release date: 2 March
Trophy Room x Air Jordan 1 Low 'Home' and 'Away'
Trophy Room – the Orlando-based sneaker boutique owned by MJ's son, Marcus Jordan – has teamed up with Jumpman to launch two AJ1 Lows that are reminiscent of the ultimate Jordan sneaker, the Air Jordan 1 'Chicago'.
Rumoured release date: 21 March
Nike Air Max Dn
The Air Max TN and the Air Max 720 is having baby! Its name? the Air Max Dn. It's due date? Air Max Day!
Release date: 26 March
Air Max 1 '86 'Royal Blue'
Another Air Max Day drop. It's a blue take on the Air Max 1 '86, the shoe also known as the 'Big Bubble' because it features a larger Air window than the design we're more familiar with, just as Tinker Hatfield, the designer, intended.
Rumoured release date: 26 March
Hidden NY x Asics Gel-NYC
Hidden NY's signature green comes to the Asics Gel-NYC, giving the Bottega green Orbit sneaker a run for its money.
Rumoured release date: March
Air Jordan 4 'Military Blue'
A strong contender for reissue of the year. And although the colourway has returned twice since its 1989 debut, this will mark the first time the shoe has been re-released with 'Nike Air' branding on the heel.
Rumoured release date: 27 April
Air Jordan 1 High '85 'Metallic Burgundy'
The Air Jordan 1 High 'metallic burgundy' is considered an OG colourway as it was released in 1985, the same year that the model made its debut. This year, the colourway returns to the Air Jordan 1 High '85 – a version of the model that closely replicates the original shoe. We couldn't be more excited.
Rumoured release date: June
Travis Scott x Jordan Jumpman Jack SP ‘Sail’
It's out with the old and in with the new over at Travis Scott x Jordan as the Houston-born hitmaker swaps out the familiar silhouettes (Air Jordan 1, Air Jordan 4 etc.) for something fresh and novel.
Rumoured release date: Spring
Nike Air Foamposite One ‘Eggplant’
The Nike Foamposite – a nineties cult classic – is making a big comeback this year. The 'eggplant' colourway leads the way, releasing this Feb around its 15th anniversary.
Rumoured release date: Spring
Wales Bonner x Adidas Adizero 'Neftegna'
Grace Wales Bonner steers her Adi collab away from Sambas this year and towards more niche terrain. Here, we have the Wales Bonner x Adidas Adizero 'neftegna' – the British designer's take on the running sneak worn by Ethiopian athlete Haile Gebrselassie as he smashed his record at the 2008 Berlin Marathon.
Rumoured release date: Spring
Salehe Bembury x Crocs 'Juniper'
A completely original Salehe Bembury x Crocs tread is officially on its way. It's called the Juniper, and its about as quirky as the Queens-born designer himself.
Rumoured release date: Spring
Action Bronson x New Balance 'Scorpius by Baklava'
One of the most unexpected collabs of '23, Action Bronson x New Balance, gives its fans (of which there are plenty) more this year. Here we have the multi-hyphenate's vibrant take on the 1906r, set to release in the first half of '24.
Rumoured release date: Spring
JJJJound x Adidas Samba ‘Off-White’
Justin Saunders' Montreal-based design studio subtly tweaks the Adidas Samba for its deeply committed following of normcorers.
Rumoured release date: Spring
Jacquemus x Nike Air Max '86
They weren't wrong when they said third time's a charm. Simone Porte Jacquemus' third Nike silhouette – a riff on the Nike Air Max '86 – is decidedly his best yet.
Rumoured release date: Spring
Nike Air Max 180 ‘Ultramarine’
The Nike Air Max 180 'ultramarine' – the OG colourway of the seminal '91 silhouette – is an essential component in any serious sneaker collection.
Rumoured release date: Spring
CDG Homme Plus x Nike Air Max TL 2.5
Not to be dramatic, but we reckon this is the flyest CDG x Nike shoe ever made. Rei Kawakubo, you've outdone yourself with this one.
Rumoured release date: Autumn
Bode x Nike Astro Grabber
Bode delved deep into the Nike archives and discovered the Astro Grabber, a seventies waffle shoe that the high-end NYC-based label has decided to put its own spin on for 2024.
Rumoured release date: Autumn
Nike Air Max SNDR
This 1999 Air Max silhouette is set to have its biggest year ever as Nike revitalises the forgotten model by way of punchy neon hues.
Rumoured release date: Autumn
Nigo x Nike Air Force 3 Low
Once on opposing sides of the court (see: Nike vs Bape), Nigo and the Swoosh have seemingly settled their differences and decided to work together. What a win for the sneaker community.
Release date: TBC
Hartcopy x Adidas
In collaboration with the Three Stripes, British digital sneaker publication Hartcopy has taken a stab at shoe design. Colour us impressed.
Release date: TBC
