The 10 Best Sneaker Collaborators Right Now

Sneaker collaborations happen almost everyday, here's who's doing it best right now.

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Complex Original

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Like in any field, there are certain people who design sneakers better than others. And when it comes to sneaker collabs, there are outposts across the globe that specialize in their own approach to a collaboration. The products that are produced are usually very limited in number, and cause instantaneous hype. When judging sneaker collaborations and who does them best, we took several things into consideration: First off, did their sneakers meet with a good reception? Then, what kind of storytelling went into their design. And, lastly—but perhaps most importantly—did they look dope?

To rank the best doing it right now, we weighed all of these options and here's what we came up with. Here are The 10 Best Sneaker Collaborators Right Now.

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10. Extra Butter

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Recent Collaborations: Saucony, ASICS
Location: New York

There's a hierarchy when it comes to sneaker collaborations. Usually, the shops and brands with more storied histories tend to get access to working on higher-profile silhouettes. Every once in a while, though, a newcomer hits the scene and shows out. Extra Butter started in Rockville Centre, N.Y. in 2007, and has only recently dove into the collab game. As the name implies, Extra Butter's shop is based around going to the movies. And for its first sneaker pack, EB referenced Robin Hood: Men in Tights with Reebok Classics in 2011. Since then, the shop has worked with ASICS on five different runners that got their design inspiration from Kill Bill, and allowed EB to flourish within the blogstream media. Even as successful as the Kill Bill pack, titled "Death List 5," was, its next collaboration with Saucony would take EB to new heights. This time, though, the shop would abandon the cinema and focus on the cosmos with a space-themed collection. First up was the "Aces" Grid 9000, which got its look from an astronaut's suit, and then EB put in work on a Shadow Master to look like astronaut ice cream, appropriately called the "Space Snack." Both launches were teased with a short film, and as long as they can thoughtfully tie in ideas, they will succeed.

Extra Butter x ASICS "Death List 5"

Extra Butter x Saucony Grid 9000 "Aces"

Extra Butter x Saucony Shadow Master "Space Snack"

9. atmos

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Recent Collaborations: Nike, Reebok, PONY, adidas, Puma
Location: Tokyo; NYC

Atmos exists in a duality. The shop is split between Tokyo and NYC and serves two very different clienteles. Still, atmos is able to hit it out of the park on a regular basis. Already steeped in the lore of the Air Max 1, atmos added more to its history of working with Nike runners this past year. Camo-print pairs of the Air Max 1 and Air Max 90 had 'heads doling out serious cash, and it's not just because the sneakers came in a military motif. One of the Air Max 1s was able to integrate slivers of suede within the printed upper—something that had never been done before. As atmos' Japanese operation was holding it down with rare-breed runners, its NYC-located store in Harlem did its thing with two buttery PONY Slam Dunks. U.S. consumers can become disconnected with what's going on overseas, but atmos is able to bridge the gap and offer both sides the best of their respective tastes. 

atmos x Nike Free Woven

atmos x Nike Air Max 90s

atmos x Nike Air Max 1s

atmos NYC x PONY Slam Dunks

8. A.P.C.

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Recent Collaborations: Nike
Location: France

You're saying to yourself, "What is a menswear brand doing on this list?" Well. A.P.C. isn't just any menswear label. Their minimalist approach to clothing has transferred over to working on Blazers, Dunks, and Air Max 1s with Nike. First working with Vans in 2011, A.P.C. prefers to keep its sneakers simple, and it has helped introduce those who are style-oriented to the foundation of Nike's legacy. Besides Air Jordans, runners are dominating sneaker culture right now, and A.P.C.'s Air Max 1s have been stripped to their core. When options such as an all-white upper with a gum sole are available, even the most die-hard sneakerheads are going to jump on a fashion collaboration. In the process, it's not unlikely for them to pick up a pair of raw denim and a bomber jacket, too. 

A.P.C x Nike Air Max 1

7. mita

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Recent Collaborations: Nike, adidas,
Location: Tokyo

If mita's name is referenced to someone with an interest in limited-edition sneakers, then images of the New Balance MT580 might pop into their head. While mita is still working on this chunky-soled runner, it's also expanded to work with nearly every other footwear brand too. In recent times, it's been mita's subtle experiments with the Nike Air Max 95, adidas ZX 8000 and Torsion Allegra models, and the Nike Free Woven that have best exhibited the shop's stance on how a collaboration should look: understated and straight to the point. For those still wanting the MT580, mita teamed up with well-known and longtime customizer SBTG for a pair that had everyone swear it was 2006 again. The 580 featured a black upper and hits of bright green tiger camo. It's not that mita does the most with its collaborations, it does the right things.

mita x adidas ZX 8000

mita x Nike Air Max 95

SBTG x mita x New Balance MT580

6. Supreme

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Recent Collaborations: Nike, Vans
Location: New York City

It's expected that people will camp out for a limited sneaker, but what happens when a hyped sneaker causes the NYPD to cancel a release? This is exactly what happened when Supreme in New York City attempted to release two pairs of Air Foamposite Ones it collaborated on with Nike. Supreme was forced to release the sneakers online (while dropping them at the Los Angeles location). Even by Supreme's standards, this release was shocking. It feels like Supreme drops a Vans collaboration that sells out within the click of a mouse every couple of weeks, but the brand has also ventured into working on athletic silhouettes, too. By now, everyone knows about Supreme's Nike SB Dunks, but its recent work has also included a Flyknit Lunar1+. It's this balance between the streetwear, skate, and sport world that gives Supreme its niche—which is rooted in downtown New York City culture of the mid-'90s. It's not hard to sell a Vans with the Playboy Bunny on it, but Supreme nailed the concept. 

Supreme x Nike Air Foamposite Ones

Supreme x Comme des Garcons SHIRT "Harold Hunter"

Supreme x Nike Flyknit Lunar1+

Supreme x Playboy x Vans Sk8-Hi

5. Sneakersnstuff

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Recent Collaborations: Reebok, Converse, Supra
Location: Sweden

Scandinavia is a budding place for men's style. The northern European region has a unique play between menswear, streetwear, and sneaker culture. And if we're talking strictly sneakers, no shop does it better than Sweden's Sneakersnstuff. Notable for its early New Balance collaborations, Sneakersnstuff has recently made a strong connection with Reebok and worked on sneakers that make sense for the shop's climate. This past winter, SNS took the Twilight Zone Pump, NPC-II, and Kamikaze II and gave them materials such as Thinsulate, Gore-tex, and herringbone wool. Each collab feels special and specific to SNS. Sure, the shop's work wins it fans across the globe, but it's the intent of serving those that shop at the store on a regular basis that makes it applaudable. Not to mention, Erik Fagerlind and Peter Jansson, the shop's owners, went on a roadtrip to track down Shaquille O'Neal and hand-delivered him a Shaqnosis, in size 23, that represented each team he played for. As they open a London location, expect more genius with an even broader appeal.

Sneakersnstuff x Reebok Twilight Zone Pump

Sneakersnstuff x Reebok Kamikaze II

Sneakersnstuff x Reebok Court Victory Pump "Crayfish"

Sneakersnstuff x Reebok NPC II

4. Packer Shoes

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Recent Collaborations: ASICS, Saucony, Reebok, adidas
Location: Teaneck, N.J.

The story of Packer Shoes, and how it's a family business that's been going for more than a century, has been told over and over again. And it never gets old. Located just outside of New York City, Packer dominates its niche of serving NYC-area 'heads and those who don't want to take a trip to the city. Talk to anyone into sneakers from New Jersey, and they have stories about Packer. And, lately, they've been talking about the shop's collaborations—most notably with ASICS and Reebok. Packer has a way of weaving real-life sports stories into its sneakers, and caused a stir when it made Reebok Question PEs for Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, who are both Nike athletes. The shop also paid tribute to Shaquille O'Neal and the 20th anniversary of the film Blue Chips with a themed Reebok Shaq Attaq. Basketball plots aren't the only thing that Packer has used in its collaborations. Its "All Roads Lead to Teaneck" series with ASICS on the Gel Kayano Trainer alluded to the roads and buses its customers take to get to the storefront.

Packer Shoes x Reebok Shaq Attaq

Packer Shoes x Reebok "For Player Use Only"

Packer Shoes x ASICS Gel Kayano Trainer "All Roads Lead to Teaneck"

Packer Shoes x Saucony "Woodland Snake"

3. size?

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Recent Collaborations: New Balance, Nike, adidas, Le Coq Sportif
Location: UK

It's not everyday that a corporate retailer has the same respect within the cult sneaker world as the independents do. But there aren't many retailers like UK's size?. The store's vast reach and taste in nostalgic models has provided a true understanding of the sneakers it works on. More impressively, size? chose to work on a model that Nike had all but forgotten about—the Air Max 93. There's no official word, but it feels like size?'s renaissance of the 93 has caused Nike to revive the silhouette, and the sneaker is expected to retro on a bigger scale sometime this year. The retailer has also done work on Air Max 180s, Huaraches, and Roshe Runs. Its high-profile collaborations have U.S. 'heads converting their dollars to pounds and paying for international shipping. Size? has also mastered the concept of the ever-so-used "pack." At times, collaborations come in multiple pairs—with certain sneakers that lack a certain resonance. But size? relays its themes through every sneaker it works on. For instance, it was tough to decide which sneaker was better in its "Teal Pack," the Air Max 93s or the Huaraches. 

size? x Nike Air Max 93 "Teal"

size? x Nike Air Huarache "Teal"

size? x Nike Air Max 180 

size? x Harrods x New Balance 574

size? x Nike Air Max Light "Urban Safari"

size? x Nike Roshe Run "Urban Safari"

 

2. Kith (Ronnie Fieg)

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Recent Collaborations: PUMA, ASICS, Filling Pieces, New Balance
Location: New York City

There's no sneaker collaborator who has more consistent hype around their releases than Kith's Ronnie Fieg. Fieg has been able to successfully turn his sneaker designs into an all-encompassing brand that tackles collaborations, clothing lines, and running a vaunted retail operation. He cut his teeth at New York City retailer David Z., but, since then, Fieg has become known for his aesthetic that revolves around colorblocking retro runners coupled with using premium materials. Although he gained his rep with his work on the ASICS Gel Lyte III, Fieg has since gone on to make his name equally known for the popularity of the Gel Lyte V and the Puma Disc Blaze. Not to mention, his best sneaker of 2013 may have been the New Balance 1600 "Daytona," which was inspired by his childhood trips to Florida. With an upcoming collab with Puma that will be sold through Dover Street Market, Fieg continues to introduce his work to wider spectrum of people.

Ronnie Fieg x New Balance 1600 "Daytona"

Ronnie Fieg x ASICS Gel Lyte V "Cove"

Ronnie Fieg x ASICS Gel Lyte V "Mint"

Ronnie Fieg x New Balance 577 "Americana"

Ronnie Fieg x Puma Disc Blaze "COA"

Ronnie Fieg x ASICS Gel Lyte III "Flamingo"

1. Concepts

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Recent Collaborations: Converse, Nike SB, New Balance, ASICS, FILA, Vans, Sperry
Location: Cambridge, Mass.

Situated next to the store that gave it life, The Tannery, and a stone's throw from Harvard's campus, Concepts has the location thing down pat. The shop's high-end clientele has afforded it opportunities to carry bigger-ticket merchandise, but its O.G. status—it was founded in 1996—has allowed Concepts to work with nearly every major brand in the game. Last year saw Concepts work with New Balance three times, but its most notable work was on the 998 "C-Note," a Made-In-USA version of the sneaker that was inspired by the $100 bill redesign. It's refreshing and impressive that Concepts can work with a plethora of brands and things in its own way. Each release comes with custom packaging, and the shop has gone the extra mile by including collector items such as tennis balls and Christmas ornaments with its collabs. It's tough to beat a great sneaker that has been made better through the time and effort put into the entire release. That's why Concepts is at the top right now.

Concepts x New Balace 998 "C-Note"

Concepts x New Balance 998 "Mint"

Concepts x Nike SB Dunk Hi "Ugly Christmas Sweater"

Concepts x FILA Original Tennis

Concepts x Converse Pro Leather "Aran Sweater"

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