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Frank Rivera AKA Frank the Butcher has got a lot of fingers in a lot of pies. Well, he just has the standard 10 fingers, but still. There's his Boylston Trading Company, of course, and the sneakers he's designed for adidas and New Balance and others. Then there's his "Butcher's Block" show, which brings together personalities from disparate fields to talk about what they do. He also found time to select his favorite sneakers of the year — so here's Frank The Butcher's Top 10 Sneakers of 2012.
Also check out Frank the Butcher on Complex TV's QUICKSTRIKE below.
10. Reigning Champ x Converse All Star Chuck Taylor Low "Grey"
Frank says: "These guys are greedy. Can't just be the leaders in fleece but had to shut the shoe game down too? These are perfect. That's it."
9. Soloist x adidas Basket Profi High
Frank says: "These are so simple and that's why they're so fly. Clean grey suede and off-white midsole made me feel like I overthink shoe designs. This was the standout in the adidas x Soloist pack."
8. Air Jordan XI "Black/Red"
Frank says: "See No. 5."
7. Foot Patrol x Converse Pro Leather Low "Spearmint Green"
Frank says: "Back-to-back English hits! Great material, color and really dope jacquard pattern on the tongue. Foot Patrol & Size? have been very busy providing reasons for Americans to panic. Shout to Paul Ruffs and John Brotherhood. Blokes."
6. Staple x Size? New Balance 577 "Black Pigeon"
Frank says: "Man, this shoe is really good. Yes, we've seen the Pigeon theme and yes, Staple has applied this colorway to other brands/models – but this UK-made beauty would be on my list even without the pigeon 'shit' graphic on the insole. Just a great shoe."
5. Air Jordan IV "White/Cement"
Frank says: "No need to over justify this shoe's value, it's all sentimental... shitty leather, bad fit and all."
4. Stussy NYC x Converse "Patchwork" Pro Leather
Frank says: "This design is fearless. In theory it shouldn't have worked. If someone tried to explain this idea to me without showing me the shoe, I would have written it off. The Converse Pro Leather is back and this execution is a perfect example of 'out of the box' thinking. A win."
3. Burn Rubber x New Balance "Blue Collar"
Frank says: "Burn Rubber owns the NB580 in the states. Just like the Kennedy 999 made people want to colab on that model, BR's work on the 580 has done the same. That's how you know you've made an impact. It's easy to use a model that's poppin – but go build some shit. Rick Williams is one of my closest friends but his shoe is on my list because he continues to produce at a high level. BAU Crew."
2. FTB x New Balance 1600 "Freedom"
Frank says: "Might be biased but fuck it, I've earned it. This shoe didn't technically come out but I took a fresh-faced NB model and made magic. This version was supposed to be a friends and family release. The quality of leather and star emboss on the toe and tongue made this shoe special. Grade A Quality."
1. HTM Flyknit Trainer
Frank says: "INNOVATION, the name of the game. Nike continues to win people over because of their focus on footwear technologies. The Flynit's one-piece knit upper construction is an example of today's innovation becoming tomorrow's classic. I don't think I know a person who doesn't own a pair."
