The Best Sneaker Collaborations of 2017

Whether it was a subtle addition or a complete artist re-design, the impact was felt throughout the sneaker industry from the Best Sneakers Collaborations of 2017.

Best Sneaker Collabs of 2017
Complex Original

Best Sneaker Collabs of 2017

Best Sneaker Collabs of 2017

2017 was a banner year for sneaker collaborations. Brands pulled out all the stops with big name artists, musicians, and retailers to deliver the best product to their customers.

Virgil Abloh, Ronnie Fieg, Kaws, and Tyler, the Creator all got their own sneakers, and they quickly became the hottest products this year. Whether it was something subtle like simply placing a logo on a shoe or letting an artist completely re-design classic sneakers, the impact was felt throughout the sneaker industry, and it’s likely changed things for years to come.

10. Tyler, the Creator x Converse

tyler the creator converse

9. Kith x Nike Maestro II

kith nike maestro

8. Aleali May x Air Jordan I

aleali may air jordan i

7. Skepta x Air Max 97

skepta x air max

6. Atmos x Nike Air Max 1

atmos nike air max 1

5. Roc-A-Fella x Nike Air Force 1

nike roc a fella

People tried to tell me that Jay Z and Roc-A-Fella Records didn’t influence people to wear white-on-white Air Force 1s in the early to mid 2000s. And here’s what I say to that: LOL. All jokes aside, there was a big reason to celebrate Roc-A-Fella and Air Force 1s in 2017, namely the fact that Nike brought back the collaboration from 2004 at this year’s ComplexCon. The shoes went on to have a wider release, but they proved to be as good as they were 13 years ago when they were first released. One of the best things about the Roc-A-Fella Air Force 1s is the backstory behind them. Although they first dropped in 2004, they were originally a promo sneaker limited to 100 pairs in 1999. According to Drew Greer, the Nike employee who put the project together, “Once Jay received his pair, he bolted to the office of Def Jam President Lyor Cohen and put his foot on his desk and boasted, 'You don't have any of these,' profiling his crispy white on white Nike Air Force 1 Lows with the official Roc-A-Fella Logo embroidered on the heel." It’s a big time stunt move that only a select few can pull off today.

4. Tom Sachs x Nike MarsYard 2.0

tom sachs nike marsyard

It’s great to see vintage sneakers get love, even if it means them being reinterpreted in new ways. And Tom Sachs’ collaboration on the MarsYard 2.0 was literally out of this world. The artist and Nike first worked on this sneaker in 2012 and made it out of Vectran fabric from the Mars Rover, which gave the sneaker a cool appeal, but made it unwearable because the fabric literally split at the seams. Nike re-released the shoes this year with mesh, and it instantly became one of the year’s best shoes. Keeping with the space theme, Nike held a special Space Camp in New York City that people had to complete to buy the sneakers. What’s refreshing about these shoes, however, is that they don’t fit the normal hype profile. Sure, they’re designed by a renowned artist, but they’re based off a ‘70s running shoe and are brown, white, and red. That’s why they’re important, though. They’re the connoisseur's sneaker, the shoe that goes unnoticed unless you know the trivial facts or appreciate a bit of history.

3. N*E*R*D x Adidas Hu Race Trail

nerd adidas hu race trail

The biggest release at ComplexCon this year, hands down, was the collaboration between N*E*R*D and Adidas on Pharrell’s Human Race Trail sneaker. The madness over the shoe was real, and it showed at the two-day convention, with upwards of 300 people breaking through a barrier to try and get their hands on the exclusive sneakers. Pharrell’s work with Adidas has proved some hits and some misses, but this can go down as his most powerful work with the brand so far. It was a dream for his fans that he incorporated N*E*R*D on a sneaker collaboration. This wasn’t the only popular Pharrell x Adidas sneaker this year, though, with the collaboration with Chanel being great, too. But the one that took the cake was the N*E*R*D pair, not just because of the pandemonium around it, but what it meant to the group’s diehard fans.

2. Kaws x Air Jordan IV

kaws air jordan iv

The only thing that was surprising about Kaws doing an Air Jordan was that it took this long for Kaws to do an Air Jordan. But when it was announced that the artist was working on an Air Jordan IV, everyone knew how big the moment was for sneakers and street culture. His artwork was placed on a grey suede upper, with his “XX” replacing the “Nike” on the heeltab. It also came with a glow-in-the-dark outsole. All of those elements built up to one of this year’s best sneakers—collaboration or otherwise. Kaws himself said he wouldn’t wear them, because he didn’t want to have awkward conversations about them on the train. Which is totally commendable. There was also a black pair released on Cyber Monday, which was first believed to be friends-and-family only. But the grey pair was the best and a moment that a lot of people who have been involved in this culture won’t forget for years. Also, proof that sneakers themselves can be art.

1. Virgil Abloh x Nike "The 10"

virgil nike

Virgil Abloh designed 10! Nike sneakers this year, and it’s hard to pick which one is the best. So let’s take a moment to recognize his collection with Nike and what it meant for sneakers this year. Not only did Abloh put his design aesthetic on each shoe, but he completely deconstructed 10 new and old sneakers, ranging from the Air Jordan 1 to the VaporMax. If you’re asking me, I’d say the Presto was the best of the bunch, but it was proof that rappers and artists have taken over the sneaker space. And word is that the collaboration between the two is going to keep on going in 2018. The most impressive part of Abloh doing all the shoes wasn’t the actual product itself, but the way it was rolled out, with the likes of Drake and Michael Jordan getting their own custom pairs from Virgil. It was an event that no brand could beat.