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You do what we do long enough, you wind up with some gems. A while back I posted up some of the kicks I had laying around my office, and this time we decided to open it up to include the whole crew. We're not gonna tell who has what, but take a look at 25 Rare Sneakers Around the Complex Office and get a little taste of what we're holding.
Supreme x Steve Caballero x Vans Half Cab 20
Year: 2012
OK. So in order to properly celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Vans Half Cab, Supreme got Steve Caballero himself to cut down and tape 20 pairs of Caballeros into Half Cabs - the OG way. He signed the boxes, and they were sold at Supreme. Skate history in a cardboard box.
Nike Air Force 1 High Player Sample
Year: 1982
It's the 30th anniversary of the Air Force 1 this year, which is all the more reason to re-visit the 1982 OGs. The "Air Force Zero" featured mesh panels on the side and a non-perforated toebox. This size 15 pair featuring re-painted Swooshes most likely sat in some college or NBA equipment room for decades before finding their way to eBay... and to us.
adidas Originals Superstar "Icons"
Year: 2011
Last year adidas hooked up a very small number of people with something very special - all-white Superstars with their name and affiliation lasered onto the heels. Exact numbers are tough to come by, but no doubt they were very, very low. Plus, each pair is technically a one-of-one.
Nike LeBron 8 "112"
Year: 2011
DJ Clark Kent's "112" colorway has already become part of the Nike pantheon, and these LeBron 8s took to the mix of elephant print, 3M and neon better than most. And unlike some of the other 112s, these never made it to retail.
Pro-Keds Royal CVO "PBR"
Year: 2011
These Royal CVOs were damn near perfect - Pro-Keds and Pabst Blue Ribbon being an ultimate Americana match - so the fact that they never were available at retail makes them even more desirable. Our pair is just waiting for summer to come back.
Foot Patrol x adidas Originals Campus 80s "B-Sides"
Year: 2011
Other B-Sides sneakers may have been more desired (like, say, the other pair that appears on this list) but the Foot Patrol Campus 80s were flawless. Beautiful pig suede, perfectly yellowed midsoles, those pony hair stripes on the medial sides - killer. And not easy to find.
Nike Dunk Low Pro SB "Supreme"
Year: 2002
Yes, you've seen these before. Forget your DS, climate-controlled, silica-gel infused sneaker show queens. These Supremes have been worn hard since the day they were purchased, and that makes them the rarest thing going. Wear your sneakers.
Under Armour Spine Bionic "Maryland's Finest"
Year: 2012
Made up for the Terps and their game against the Kentucky Wildcats at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, these Under Armour Spine Bionics mixed Maryland's colors and Brooklyn Dodger detailing. Less than 100 pairs were made, including retail pairs and the game shoes.
Cliché x adidas Skateboarding Lucas Pro
Year: 2012
Cliché celebrated their 15th anniversary this year with a little help from adidas (and skater Lucas Puig). It's unclear whether the colorway of this sample pair ever made it to retail, but they're dope nonetheless.
Nike Air Force 1 High Supreme "Sheed"
Year: 2007
Rasheed Back. These 2007 Air Force 1 Supremes were an unprecedented $275 when they dropped - which made them a tough sell. Somewhat limited to begin with, this sample pair is even more rare.
Nike Air Jordan VII "Olympic"
Year: 1992
Why spend outrageous amounts of loot on retros when you can cop OGs instead? This pair of 1992 Air Jordan VII "Olympics" has never been laced, is in a popular size 9, and cost less than some people were getting for their third retro edition of the same shoe. Seek and ye shall find.
Reebok Question Mid
Year: 1997
There was a time when a Reebok Question release wasn't a happening. These grey-toe mids were a team offering that was readily available at Eastbay back in the day, and now are about as easy to find as Allen Iverson on an NBA roster. Er, sorry AI.
Pro Keds Royal Master Suede "Brooklyn"
Year: 2012
If you know DJ Clark Kent at all, you know he represents Brooklyn to the fullest. His take on the classic Pro-Keds Royal Master Suede features "Brooklyn" script on the heels to go with the Dodger blue uppers. Recognize.
Toy2R x adidas adicolor Century Low
Year: 2006
The "adicolor" project back in 2007 found adidas teaming up with all sorts of folk. These "Toy2R" Century Lows had something of a BAPE-like feel without being, you know, BAPEs.
Bodega x Nike Air Footscape Woven Chukka PRM
Year: 2011
Allegedly, this colorway of the Bodega Footscape Woven Chukka was produced in extremely tiny numbers and only found its way to overseas accounts. Whatever the case, we're happy we got a pair.
Nike Fly Knit Racer NRG
Year: 2012
As part of the very first HTM Fly Knit drop, these Racers featured "USA" branding on the tongue and dropped in conjunction with the Summer Olympics. The Olympics themselves may have been dominated by Volt, but these were the real Racers to have.
Vans Syndicate Authentic Pro "Jason Dill"
Year: 2012
Perhaps the least "limited" shoe on this list, these Jason Dill Syndicates are every bit as sick as their never-sold brethren. The silver uppers and clear soles gave some extra swag to one of Vans' all-time classic silhouettes. Syndicate, fools.
Nike 6.0 Mavrk Premium "Nigel Sylvester"
Year: 2007
Back before Nigel Sylvester totally blew up, he got to do a sneaker with Nike. His blacked-ou Mavrk Premium utilized every texture of leather possible, from snake to ostrich, complete with a purple quilted liner and gold Swooshes on one side only. Royalty.
UNDFTD x adidas Originals Top Ten "1979"
Year: 2008
A project from UNDFTD, Estevan Oriol and adidas, these Top Tens came in an enormous box complete with a book of Oriol's photos. Suggested retail was $450, and only 650 sets were ever produced.
Le Coq Sportif Joakim 3.0 Low LE
Year: 2012
Well, they're rare in the United States. Joakim Noah's 2012 Olympic shoes by Le Coq Sportif owe a little design debt to his pops Yannick's tennis shoes from back in the day, but the pop-art fade assures that they can stand on their own.
Nike Air Ace
Year: 1988
Vintage sneakers are rare for the same reason old baseball cards are - sure, they made tons of them, but a majority of them have long since been thrown out. The 1988 Air Ace was essentially a low-cut Air Revolution with a tennis outsole, and thus cherished by those who are still holding.
Nike LeBron 8 "James Dean"
Year: 2011
Simply one of the sickest denim sneakers ever. The LeBron 8 "James Dean," with its mix of dark denim and black leather, was another DJ Clark Kent creation, and the lifestyle makeup of a current performance sneaker did not go unnoticed - particularly by the dude whose name is on it.
adidas Originals Superstar 80s BAPE "B-Sides"
Year: 2011
Remember what we said about desirable B-Sides shoes? Yeah, so there were these. The BAPE B-Sides Superstars caused a commotion the second the first teaser photos dropped, and they wound up being almost as difficult to get as the original BAPE Superstars. Which was really difficult. Yeah, we have a DS pair here just in case.
Stash x Packer Shoes x Reebok Pump Graphlite
Year: 2011
Stash did up these Reebok Pump Graphlite runners in his familar palette of greys and blues to help celebrate Packer Shoes' 100th year in business. Limited to just 289 pairs worldwide, the Graphlite is on the low one of Stash's best sneaker creations.
Air Jordan I Retro Black Toe "Laser"
Year: 2008
Gifted to media members on the occasion of the Air Jordan XX3 launch in Chicago, these Black Toe retros differed from their retail brethren via Michael Jordan's lasered signature on the inner left ankle. Of course Jordan has the means to make thousands upon thousands of these - but they didn't.
