This Weekend's Essential Sneaker Drops: Week Of June 18 2016

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Nike SB’s premier shoe, the Stefan Janoski, gets a wild makeover with this Skate Mental collaboration. Already the most popular non-Dunk shoe in Nike SB’s arsenal due to the simple and classic throwback aesthetic of a canvas upper rubber sole (but featuring full length Zoom Air tech for a modern ride that doesn’t shatter ankles and knees), this release is plain crazy. Decked out in an entirely printed pepperoni pizza upper, the shoe really gets the details right by using an Italian-inspired colour palette on the tongue branding. 

When? 17th June, 2016

Where? Nike (Online)

There’s nothing quite like an Air Jordan XI release to get the masses interested in Js again. Rolling out with an all-navy blue mesh and patent leather upper, the low cut version of the famed AJ XI sits on a white midsole (and let’s be perfectly honest here, at no stage should any Air Jordan XI ever sit on anything BUT a white midsole. No exceptions) with a delicious gum outsole. Although this is a brand new colourway, you really can’t mess up the XI low, unless you do something extreme, like prints on the patent leather or a coloured midsole. Let’s pray to MJ that never happens again.

When? 18th June, 2016

Where? Nike (Online), Foot Locker (Nationwide), Kickz101 (Melbourne)

Coming back 15 years after originally releasing in 2001, the cherry red Air Jordan XI Low makes its glorious return to retail shelves, long after many of the OG models would have exploded or crumbled. Featuring a cherry red hue on the iconic patent leather and offset with the traditional all-white mesh uppers, it all sits on a crispy translucent outsole. Thankfully this doesn’t appear to be icy blue like many of the recent Air Jordan releases. This bodes well for those of us that want that piss-yellow look after keeping these on ice for another 10 years. A welcome return for a classic shoe, I hope Jordan Brand releases a few more of these Retro+ colourways to wash away the monstrosity that was the Air Jordan XI Low CMFT in a very similar colourway. Yikes.

When? 18th June, 2016

Where? Nike (Online), Foot Locker (Nationwide), Kickz101 (Melbourne)

So far, this is the best release of the new Air Jordan X City Series. Dressed in off-white uppers that contrast with grey crackled leather along the laces and midsole, there is a tasteful golden “LDN” on the ankle and Jumpman on the heel to show off the inspiration behind the shoe. Deriving its palette from the grey skies and smoke that are normally associated with a dreary London day, this is my personal pick of the City Series and sure to be a winner with collectors looking for something a little less obnoxious and garish from new Jordan colourways.

When? 19th June, 2016

Where? Nike (Online), Foot Locker (Nationwide), Kickz101 (Melbourne), Sure Store (Melbourne), Laced (Brisbane)