Image via Complex Original
Animal Print Lead
You don't have to work for PETA to notice that animal prints on sneakers are all the rage these days. Though Tinker Hatfield has been putting prints from the wild on sneakers since the late '80s, it's only as of recent that there is an all-leopard-everything theme draping basically all of your favorite silos via exclusive drops and "Animal/Safari Packs." But, we're not mad; for the most part, animal print on anything almost always makes it better (except car seats, couches and comforters — zebra print Snuggies are acceptable, though). From the Nike Air Safari all the way up to the latest Kinetics x adidas Originals Superstar 80s "Animal" release, animal prints on sneakers have always caught our attention. Thus, it's only right we took a look at The 25 Best Animal Print Sneakers of All Time...
Kobe VII
25. Nike Zoom Kobe VII Supreme "Christmas"
Release: 2011
Animal Print: Cheetah
For Christmas, we got Cheetah, and that was certainly better than the coal we were supposed to get. Cause what better way is there to embody Kobe's quickstrike play than the print of one of nature's fastest mammals?
Supreme Vans
24. Supreme x Vans Era
Release: 2011
Animal Print: Zebra
Supreme x Vans collaborations are definitely nothing new. However, it was the print of Africa's black and white equid on the classic Vans Era that allowed this collaboration to be as coveted as it was.
Chapter Exclusive
23. adidas Originals Forum Mid "Chapter World Exclusive"
Release: 2011
Animal Print: Leopard
Japanese retailer Chapter Exclusive kept it low-key with a wild leopard print on the classic Forum Mid. Subtle, yet bold, is always a strong look.
JS Bones
22. adidas Originals by Jeremy Scott JS Bones
Release: 2011
Animal Print: Leopard
As if the print wasn't enough, we'll give you the bones from the animal it came from. adidas Originals x Jeremy Scott — always keepin' it real.
supreme dunk high
21. Nike Dunk High Pro SB "Supreme"
Release: 2003
Animal Print: Crocodile
The Supreme Dunk Highs took the whole Nike Dunk SB trip to the heights of absurdity. Three sets of laces, gold dubrays, screened-on gold stars and — of course — croc print leather. The red pair was the best, in our humble opinion.
Samba Snake
20. adidas Originals Samba "Snake"
Release: 2011
Animal Print: Snake
If Kobe continued on his path with soccer — indoor, at that — and was still given a reptilian nickname, he'd definitely wear these.
Artillery
19. adidas Originals by Jeremy Scott Artillery Hi
Release: 2009
Animal Print: Snake
Joseph gave us an Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jeremy gave us amazing technicolor snakeskinkicks. Which are we more grateful for? Take a wild guess.
Half Cab
18. Supreme x Vans Half Cab
Release: 2012
Animal Print: Giraffe
We don't see enough giraffe print on sneakers these days. Thankfully, Supreme's got us covered for the Half Cab's 20th birthday with a colorway that'd make Geoffrey jealous.
Kobe VI
17. Nike Zoom Kobe VI
Release: 2011
Animal Print: Snake
Who knew TPU snake scales would look so good? No sloughing, though, because in the Kobe VI the "Black Mamba" was still one of the most dominant players in the game.
JS Leopard
16. adidas Originals by Originals Jeremy Scott JS Leopard
Release: 2012
Animal Print: Leopard
Give a top designer leopard print and he's going to want a tail. Jeremy Scott is no stranger to pushing the envelope, and the JS Leopards further prove that he is very different, even when doing something remotely familiar.
Vans Syndicate
15. Anthony Van Engelen and Jason Dill for Vans Syndicate Authentic Pro & Old Skool 92 Pro
Release: 2012
Animal Print: Leopard, Snake
In keeping animal print momentum strong in 2012, Vans Syndicate tapped professional skateboarders Anthony Van Engelen and Jason Dill for design contribution. Obviously, skateboarders really get down with their footwear design — word to Chad Mu$ka.
air jordan ii
14. Nike Air Jordan II
Release: 1987
Animal Print: Iguana
The Italian-made Nike Air Jordan II did away with the Swoosh and added a panel of iguana-print leather where it would have gone. The price went up accordingly.
stussy dunk
13. Nike Dunk High Pro B "Stüssy"
Release: 2001
Animal Print: Snake
Stüssy went all upscale in 2001 with a two-shoe Dunk Pro B pack (the other was a beige high with an ostrich Swoosh) featuring exotic hits on the Swooshes and lux leather linings. Anything less would be uncivilized.
atmos adidas gid
12. atmos x adidas Superstar 80s “Snake GID”
Release: 2010
Animal Print: Snake
atmos knows animal prints. They took it a step further with this Superstar 80s, which featured not only a snakeskin upper, but a glow-in-the-dark snakeskin upper. To all you amateur herpetologists out there, this is not a condition found in the wild.
Jordan XI
11. Air Jordan XI Low "Snakeskin"
Release: 2001
Animal Print: Snake
When people think Jordan and animal print, their first inclination is almost always going to be the Jordan III. But, that's exactly why the Jordan XI "Snakeskin" was a sleeper that was certainly ahead of its time.
Insta Pump
10. mita sneakers x Reebok Insta Pump Fury
Release: 2011
Animal Print: Leopard
An early '90s classic with a new school vibe. Does leopard make everything better, or is there a point where it becomes overkill (no PETA)?
Footscape
9. Nike Air Footscape Woven Chukka Motion "Animal Pack"
Release: 2011
Animal Print: Leopard, Zebra
Already an unconventional sneaker, the Air Footscape Woven Chukka Motion was taken to new levels of neck-breakingness when it was adorned in both leopard and zebra print. Wildly avant-garde.
Beast Pack
8. Atmos x Nike Air Max 1, Dunk & Court Force "Beast Pack"
Release: 2007
Animal Print: Leopard, Horse, Snake, Tiger, Siberian Tiger
Lions and tigers and Nikes — oh my! Not even real fur, but there're so much prints on prints on prints in the Beast Pack that PETA was probably still pissed off.
adidas concord snake
7. adidas Originals Concord "Snakeskin"
Release: 2004
Animal Print: Snake
Our shaky memories have the original Concords being available in snakeskin back in the '80s, but this 2004 retro was every bit as good as the original.
Sting Ray
6. adidas Originals Stan Smith
Release: 2011
Animal Print: Stingray, Zebra
A surf 'n' turf combination that we NEVER expected. A faux stingray upper? Amazing. Zebra print so good people may think adidas is poaching? Incredible.
Kinetics
5. Kinetics x adidas Originals Superstar 80s "Animal"
Release: 2011
Animal Print: Leopard, Snake
Napoleon Dynamite preferred the hybrid cross of a lion and tiger (a Liger), but it's clear that Kinetics thought a crossbreed between leopard horse hair and snakeskin detailing would be more functional on a sneaker. Looks like they got it right.
cocoa snake af1
4. Nike Air Force 1 Low "Cocoa Snake"
Release: 2001
Animal Print: Snakeskin
The first Nike Air Force 1 to be made with this much faux snakeskin, the "Cocoa Snakes" were a Japan-only drop, to the dismay of stateside sneakerheads. Still one of the legendary AF1s.
Air Safari
3. Nike Air Safari
Release: 1987
Animal Print: Ostrich
Seeing its 25th birthday this year, the Air Safari is certainly a gem within the Nike Running family. Fashioned after an exotic ostrich skin couch that Tinker Hatfield saw in a high-end New York City furniture store, the Air Safari perfectly exemplifies the "fashion meets functionality" design approach.
Air Max Safari
2. Atmos x Nike Air Max 1 & 95 "Safari Pack"
Release: 2006
Animal Print: Horse, Cow, Zebra, Leopard
As far as animal prints on sneakers go, these were definitely "all hands on deck." With virtually no phylum left unturned, this Air Max pack was a tough pair to tame, unless you had a good connect.
Jordan III
1. Air Jordan III
Release: 1988
Animal Print: Elephant
What else more is there to say about the print and design that made Jordan stay with Nike? Thank you, Tinker. Thank you. (Shouts to the Supreme Dunk Lows, too, which are 1b.)
