Image via Nike
With 2018 coming to a close, brands are putting out some of their last big effort's of the year. This week's highlights include the Fear of God x Nike collection designed by Jerry Lorenzo, the long-awaited return of the "Mocha" Air Jordan III, and Nike's Doernbecher 2018 lineup.
Releases start on Wednesday with the release of the Fear of God Essentials x Converse Chuck 70, Rox Brown x WMNS Air Jordan I, and "Triple Black" Adidas "Never Made" collection.
Friday brings the Kwasi Kessie x Adidas Speedfactory AM4, "Semi Frozen Yellow" Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 restock, "Origin Story" Air Jordan I inspired by Spider-Man, "Obsidian" WMNS Nike Air Foamposite One, Nike's Doernbecher 2018 collection, and the "Purple Lobster" Concepts x Nike SB Dunk Low.
Things wrap up on Saturday when the "Voltage Purple" Air Max Plus, highly-anticipated Fear of God x Nike collection, "Multi" Kyrie 5, "I'm King" LeBron 16, and "Mocha" Air Jordan III all arrive at select retailers.
For a more detailed look at all of the best pairs dropping, here is a Complete Guide to This Weekend's Sneaker Releases.
Fear of God Essentials x Converse Chuck 70
Price: $110
When: Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m.
Where: PacSun stores and pacsun.com
What You Need to Know: Fear of God's diffusion label Essentials is dropping a collaboration with Converse. The PacSun-exclusive release features black and white-based colorways of the Chuck 70. Each sports a contrasting leather tongue and rubber toe cap, Essentials branding on the left heel, elongated white laces designed to wrap around the ankle, and will come in special packaging.
Rox Brown x WMNS Air Jordan I
Price: $160
When: Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Celebrity stylist and influencer Rox Brown designed her own Air Jordan I. The all-black women's colorway is given a premium touch, thanks to a satin upper with buttery nubuck overlays. Reflective panels, metal eyelets, and a translucent outsole have been included as well. The pair's standout detail is a bright red rose graphic on the tongue and heel to symbolize one of Brown's tattoos.
Adidas Never Made 'Triple Black' Collection
Price: $130-$200
When: Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m.
Where: adidas.com and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Adidas is dropping the third round of its "Never Made" collection. This time around, the brand is using a "Triple Black" theme across the eight-shoe lineup that includes the Marathon x 5923, Country x Kamanda, I x 4D, Boston Super x R1, Rising Star x R1, Micropacer x R1, 98 x Crazy BYW, and ZX 930 x EQT. Each fuses archival uppers with the brand's latest innovations like Boost, 4D, and the Kamanda's wavy outsole.
Image via Adidas
Image via Adidas
Kwasi Kessie x Adidas Speedfactory AM4
Price: $200
When: Friday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.
Where: adidas.com and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Adidas runner and ASAP Ferg's stylist Kwasi Kessie has created a Speedfactory AM4 inspired by Harlem. This pair is crafted specifically to cater to New York City's terrain. It features a black and cream python pattern with bright blue accents across its knit upper. The choices are inspired by Kessie's mother and the extravagant style of Harlem. It sits atop a full-length Boost midsole.
Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Semi Frozen Yellow'
Price: $220
When: Friday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.
Where: adidas.com, yeezysupply.com, and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: The "Semi Frozen Yellow" Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 restocks this week. This colorway is easily the most eye-catching Adidas Yeezy to ever release. It is also one of the most limited drops of the design to date. Key details include bright red "SPLY-350" branding on the side panel and gum bottoms.
Air Jordan I 'Origin Story'
Price: $160
When: Friday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Jordan Brand has crafted a brand new colorway of the Air Jordan I to coincide with the release of the upcoming animated film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The pair is almost identical to the beloved OG "Chicago" color scheme, but features subtle differences like reflective red panels, an icy outsole, Photo Blue hits on the tongue tag and insole, and special Spidey packaging. The film's main character, Miles Morales, rocking Air Jordan Is in the film is a nice touch that brings the collab full circle.
WMNS Nike Air Foamposite One 'Obsidian'
Price: $230
When: Friday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Nike is dropping another women's-exclusive take on the Air Foamposite One. It features a glittery Obsidan Blue shell, matching nubuck panels, and a tonal mesh bootie as well. Gold is used to color the stripe on the tongue, insole, and Penny logos on the heel and outsole.
Nike Doernbecher 2018 Collection
Price: $90-$190
When: Friday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Nike's annual Doernbecher collection releases this week. The 2018 range will include an Air Max 270, Air Force 1 Low, Air Jordan XV, Nike SB Dunk Low, Air Max 97, and Zoom Fly SP. Each is given a unique colorway designed by patients at the OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon that represent their favorite colors, sports teams, cartoons, and more. As always, proceeds from the collection will be donated directly to the hospital, which makes purchasing these limited pairs more than worth it.
Concepts x Nike SB Dunk Low 'Purple Lobster'
Price: $130
When: Friday, Dec. 14 (Concepts and cncpts.com), Saturday, Dec. 15 (Select retailers), and Monday, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. (Nike SNKRS)
Where: Concepts, cncpts.com, Nike SNKRS, and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Concepts is bringing back its popular "Lobster" theme on the Nike SB Dunk Low to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the duo's first project. The "Purple Lobster" offers a purple version of the crustacean theme originally brought to life by the Boston boutique in 2008. It features lobster shell-like panels wrapping the toe and heel, a purple and white checkerboard print on its inner lining, an extra set of pink laces for additional contrast, and will come packaged with its signature rubber band around the toe. While purple lobsters may not be proven to exist, it would be the result if you mixed the original red and blue iterations, making it the appropriate way to honor the work from a decade ago.
Nike Air Max Plus 'Voltage Purple'
Price: $170
When: Saturday, Dec. 15 at 10 a.m.
Where: nike.com and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: The "Voltage Purple" Nike Air Max Plus is inspired by one of the original sketches of the popular '90s runner by designer Sean McDowell. It features a purple gradient upper, black overlays, and orange contrast used on the Swoosh, tongue, and Air bubble.
Fear of God x Nike Collection
Price: $300-$350
When: Saturday, Dec. 15 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Jerry Lorenzo's highly-anticipated Nike Air Fear of God 1 is finally releasing this weekend. The original performance basketball silhouette will be available in "Light Bone" and "Black" colorways. The "Light Bone" pair sports a tumbled leather upper, toggle lacing system, Swoosh-branded TPU cage for support, zipper down the heel, Fear of God branding on the heel, and a blue-tinted Zoom Air unit. The black version will be constructed of a durable mesh. Along with the Air Fear of God 1, the Fear of God SA (Shoot Around) will also be releasing in identical color schemes. The SA eliminates the outer cage and adds a glossy Swoosh to each side panel, re-tooled lacing system, and velcro ankle strap inspired by the Air Force 1 High.
Image via Nike
Image via Complex Original
Nike Kyrie 5 'Multi'
Price: $130
When: Saturday, Dec. 15 at 10 a.m.
Where: nike.com and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: The latest version of the Nike Kyrie 5 has been dressed in a colorway allegedly loosely-inspired by the Boston Celtics point guard's love for the animated series Rick and Morty. It sports a navy blue mesh upper, metallic silver branding, and multi-colored hits on the outsole and Venus Flytrap-inspired lockdown system covering the laces.
Nike LeBron 16 'I'm King'
Price: $160
When: Saturday, Dec. 15 at 10 a.m.
Where: nike.com and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Nike has outfitted the LeBron 16 in another royal colorway inspired by LeBron James' regal nickname. The "I'm King" LeBron 16 features a black Battleknit 2.0 upper with tonal hits on the tongue and heel that include his signature lion's head logo, "2" and "3" to represent his jersey number, and "I'm King" written in bold lettering. Gold detailing is used for King James' signature, crown logo on the insole, and the heel portion of the midsole. A purple Dunkman appears on the outsole as a nod to his current squad, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Air Jordan III 'Mocha'
Price: $190
When: Saturday, Dec. 15 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: The "Mocha" Air Jordan III is getting its first retro release this weekend. The 2001 colorway features a clean, white leather upper. Dark Mocha accents are used on the Jumpman logos, elephant print panels, and outsole. While this colorway was originally unsuccessful at retail, hitting sale racks when it first arrived 17 years ago, it has turned into one of the most beloved non-OG III's over the years.