The holiday season is well and truly upon us, with Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Christmas all around the corner. Adidas, YEEZY and Jordan Brand all go head to head with my favourite sneakers releasing this week. However, a pair of customs from legendary Colour Designer Lorenzo Federici stood out amongst the rest.
I take a look at Lorenz OG‘s tie-dye New Balance 2002R’s, Virgil Abloh‘s next collaborative effort with Jordan Brand and plenty more below. Why not take a look and see what is happening this week in sneakers.
LORENZ OG X NEW BALANCE 2002R PROTECTION PACK
Lorenzo Federici shot to superstardom amongst the diehard sneaker collectors amongst us thanks to his eye-catching customs of our favourite silhouettes. I remember seeing the Comme Des Garcons x Nike Air Max 95 and knew this guy was special. Fast-forward to this week, and Lorenz OG has picked up and completely flipped the New Balance 2002R ‘Protection Pack’ on its head.
The NB ‘Protection Pack’ is already one of the most sought-after general releases from the Boston-based sneaker brand, but what Mr Federici has done will only make the shoe more desirable. The vibrant tie-dye pack features a minimalistic black colourway alongside a pastel version and a peach-infused rain cloud colour combo. Although virtually impossible to pick a favourite, something about the pink and blue hues dyed across the sea salt 2002R really demands attention.
A must-have for any New Balance head, obtaining a pair of Lorenz OG customs does not come easy but is oh-so worth it.
OFF-WHITE X AIR JORDAN 2 LOW
At this stage of the game, whenever Virgil Abloh speaks, we listen. The creative powerhouse has his hands in many pies, but none more fruitful than the super successful collaboration with Jordan Brand. This time around, Abloh dusts off a relatively forgotten Jordan silhouette and puts a typically Off-White twist on them.
The AJ2 Low comes dressed in a white/red and black/blue colorway, with intentionally aged detailing throughout the shoe’s design. The sole unit appears to be crumbling, like the horror TikTok’s circulating the internet of OG Air Jordan’s falling apart. Fortunately, though, these sneakers are not disintegrating and are very much wearable. Although coming under some scrutiny from the sneaker community when they first leaked, I expect the Off-White x AJ2 to be an instant sell-out, with many people falling in love with the sneaker once in hand. It is difficult to consistently remain relevant in this day and age, something Virgil has had no issues doing.
YEEZY KNIT RUNNER BOOT SULFUR
Kanye West is once again in the headlines, thanks to a recent podcast where he came for, well, everybody. After destroying Big Sean and cutting ties with almost the entire music industry, it is excellent to see Ye get back to what he does best, pushing the boundaries of design with YEEZY. The YEEZY Knit Runner Boot in the sulfur colorway is like nothing we’ve ever seen before.
The divisive shoe looks to draw inspiration from astronaut boots. The intriguing silhouette features insulated materials that run up the boot’s collar with an easy-access velcro system to take the Runner boot on and off. Ye looks to choose functionality over fashion this time around, with a chunky midsole covering most of the foot. This design aspect gives the boot unparalleled grip and comfort in whatever terrains you may wear them in. Although I may never see myself in a pair of the YEEZY Runner boots, you can never question Ye’s desire to test the waters within the footwear industry with weird creations.
JEREMY SCOTT X ADIDAS FORUM
Jeremy Scott became somewhat of a cult hero within the Hip Hop community thanks to his previous collaborative work with adidas. Co-signed by A$AP Rocky and the rest of the Mob, Scott’s return to the sneaker game will be met with open arms. Scott has always prided himself on animated designs, with his latest efforts anything but bland.
Scott takes over the ever-popular Forum high and low, two skate silhouettes that have seen a resurgence over the last year. The low top comes dressed in lime green and covered in patent leather, guaranteed to turn heads of passersby. The high tops take on a similar design, with patent leather featuring across both the blue and black colorways. The dipped designs give off a coated, DIY look, which we have not seen before with the adidas forum. The Forum has always been a shoe based around expressing yourself. Adidas will be over the moon that Jeremy Scott has managed to flex his creative muscles and deliver his perspective through the iconic sneaker.
So, there you have it, a breakdown of what is happening this week within the sneaker community. With so many must-have silhouettes releasing over the next few weeks, brace yourself for an abundance of Sneaker of the Year candidates flooding the market. It really is the most wonderful time of the year, especially for sneakerheads.
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See also: HERE’S WHY SHOE PRICES ARE SURGING AT THE HIGHEST RATE IN TWO DECADES
