We’ve now got a firm foot in the door of 2022, waving goodbye to dry January (in more ways than one). But what is that foot wearing? Well, despite only being at the start of it, 2022 has already brought a serious lineup of new sneakers. While all eyes in the sneaker community have been on the Air Jordan 3 ‘Infrared’ and Nike x Hello Kitty’s linkup capsule, Valentino have also entered the game with an eco-conscious shoe, and Sacai’s Vaporwaffle is set to turn heads when released today.
Take a look at a selection of what’s been going on this week in sneakers below.
DSM NIKE DUNK LOW
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It was late last year that fans first caught a glimpse of Dover Street Market’s Nike Dunk Lows – and they were covered in velvet. With a largely unchanged core design, these dunks have been updated with DSM’s logo, as well as signature innovative fabric use. Confirmed on DSM’s Instagram this week, the drop is set to see an all-black, all-white, and hybrid black-white colourway.
VALENTINO GARAVANI: OPEN FOR A CHANGE
For SS22, luxury house Valentino are reimagining some of their signature sneakers with a more conscious-driven ethos. The ‘Open for a Change’ shoes are available in a variety of different colourways, but both place an emphasis on sustainability. The strings are completely made of recycled polyester, while Valentino’s trademark studs come in recycled nylon. Even the packaging is considered, with paper sourced from sustainably-managed forests. Drip for a good cause.
ADIDAS NMD S1 CORE BLACK
Sneaker giants adidas delivered this week too, dressing up its original 2015 silhouette in a triple black upper with modernised elements. Breaking it down, adidas deliver a sock-like mainstay which sits atop a BOOST sole, which absorbs and cushions each stride. Released in all-black for the first time, these sneakers are set to be US$180 and dropping alongside a grey-white colourway. Watch this space.
AIR JORDAN 4 INFRARED
This season is hitting different for Jordan Brand. Although we’ve seen a select few sneakerheads preview these, this week saw official product images released for the Air Jordan 4 in Infrared. With colour blocking and neutral tones, many online drew comparisons to the ‘Green Glows’ from 2013. However, this colourway sees greys, glossy blacks and red detailing, set to hit the market in May.
SACAI X NIKE VAPORWAFFLE
Sneaker fans fell in love with the gum sole on the Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffles, but their release date was delayed by over a year… until now. Set to release on HAVEN, in Canada, the shoes see mesh and suede bond together on the upper, while a stacked midsole makes a statement below. The release is set to go global in Feb, with all eyes on Sacai for their upcoming Nike Cortez collab, which was previewed at Fashion Week.
NIKE X HELLO KITTY
Hello Kitty has fashion in a headlock, releasing collabs with Takashi Muramaki, Balenciaga and Blumarine in recent months. Now Nike are tapping the iconic Japanese cat for a collection which includes a series of kitty-adorned sneakers. While we haven’t been given an official release date as of yet, the capsule collection and included sneakers are set to sell out on their release, if last time was anything to go by.
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