Most Hyped Items of 2018 (So Far)
For the last six months, brands have been releasing various collections and special, limited-edition collaborations. But only a few have really caught people’s attention. So which ones have been the most in-demand this year, so far?
Hype can be brought on by a multitude of things, including resale value, celebrity co-sign, lineups, how quickly the item sells out, and of course sheer desire from consumers. And while there haven’t been a ton of “hyped” releases in 2018, a few have checked these boxes.
From obvious choices like Supreme x Rimowa to Fear of God’s Satin Coaches Jacket, here are the most hyped style drops of 2018 (so far).
Supreme x Rimowa Suitcases
It’s impossible to put together a list of the most hyped style drops of 2018 without a Supreme release, the most obvious being its collaboration with Rimowa.
Rimowa is no stranger to streetwear collabs. Some might remember the brand worked with Bape back in 2008. A decade later, Rimowa’s signature roller luggage was remixed with Supreme’s unmistakable branding. A total of four items were released—the Topas Multiwheel suitcase in a carry-on 45L size and a larger 82L size, both of which were available in black and red. No surprise, the collab sold out in under a minute even despite its hefty price tag (the carry-on retailed for $1,600, while the larger suitcase was sold for $1,800). Now, they’re on Grailed for over $6,000. If you were lucky enough to get your hands on one, hopefully you only fly private because that bag is probably getting snatched the moment it comes out on the carousel. —Mike DeStefano
Polo Snow Beach Re-Release
At the top of the year, Polo re-released its Snow Beach collection in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the original launch. The line—which included a red Snow Beach vest, a Snow Beach bucket hat, and a Cold Wave fitted cap along with newer pieces in black and white like Snow Beach rugby, poncho, backpack, waist pack, and sneakers—caught people’s attention. But the biggest draw was definitely the Snow Beach pullover. OG ‘Lo heads and, yes, resellers lined up outside stores for a chance to cop the grail piece. Even Raekwon and Just Blaze, who picked up a few pieces from the reissue, stopped by the Polo store in Soho on launch day.
Some have questioned Polo’s intentions, and whether the re-release was just a cash-grab opportunity. While there may be some of that at play, there’s no denying that the re-release had people talking about the brand again. —Mike DeStefano
Sean Wotherspoon's Air Max 1/97
Sean Wotherspoon has come a long way since opening the original Round Two store in Richmond, Virginia in 2013. In fact, the go-to vintage shop for the likes of Travis Scott and Lil Yachty has become so popular that there’s now Round Two storefronts in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami. But perhaps the most obvious sign of Wotherspoon’s success is the Air Max 1/97 he designed with Nike.
The colorful sneaker, inspired by Wotherspoon’s love for vintage Nike caps from the 1980s, fuses a corduroy Air Max 97 upper with a cream midsole from the Air Max 1—Wotherspoon’s two favorite Air Max models. It was picked by fans as the winner of Nike’s Vote Forward contest for Air Max Day 2017 and is easily this year’s most popular sneaker. It has sold out during every release and re-release and it’s been worn by everyone from LeBron James to DJ Khaled. While there’s demand for it on the resale market, the best thing about the shoe was that people actually wanted to wear it. —Mike DeStefano
Fear of God Satin Coaches Jacket
Inspired by his love for baseball, the satin coaches jackets from Fear of God’s Fifth collection gained popularity thanks in part to early co-signs from Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Odell Beckham Jr., and Quavo. By June, that list included Michael B. Jordan (who had “Killmonger” written on the back of his outerwear), Chadwick Boseman, Colin Kaepernick, Kevin Hart, and Nas. The customizable jackets were so in-demand that Lorenzo eventually offered the personalization program, previously only available to VIP clients, to the public. —Mike DeStefano
Off-White x Converse Chuck 70
Virgil Abloh’s “The Ten” collection with Nike was widely considered the best sneaker project of 2017. It delivered gems like Abloh’s reinterpretations of the Air Jordan 1 and Air Presto, but ironically only included nine sneakers. The tenth, a translucent take on the Converse Chuck 70, was delayed because of last minute design tweaks that were made to the final retail version, which might’ve eventually played a role in the shoe’s success and hype. But this May, the pair finally made its way to market and, like all of Abloh’s other creations with Nike, it sold out in seconds. —Mike DeStefano
Rihanna's Savage x Fenty Lingerie Collection
In April, Rihanna announced she was taking her Fenty empire to new heights with the launch of a lingerie line. The singer posted a video of models in pink lingerie as the words “Savage X Fenty” flashed across the screen. Fast-forward roughly a month later and nearly every item on the site is sold out, which is no surprise considering the queue to access the website the night of the launch stretched as long as three hours. Hype aside though, Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty line has been celebrated by many for her inclusion of all body types. What can we say? RiRi can do no wrong. —Karizza Sanchez
Supreme's Stern Pinball Machine
Supreme caused hysteria on the Internet when it announced it was releasing a full-size, arcade-quality Stern pinball machine. Even at $9,600, all 100 of them sold out. They’re currently on the resale market for up to $80,000. But if you can’t cough up $80k, we heard Max Fish in the Lower East Side has one. —Karizza Sanchez
AWGE x Needles Tracksuit
After a co-sign from A$AP Rocky, and a few others including Luka Sabbat and the No Vacancy Inn guys, stores couldn’t keep Needles’ track pants in stock. It only made sense then that Rocky himself collaborated with Needles on his own version of the Japanese brand’s track pant and track jacket.
Released in March, the AWGE x Needles collab included matching blue, pink, and green track pants and jackets, as well as black/white lurex and black/yellow pants. They were sold at Domicile Tokyo and Nepenthes in New York and Tokyo and flew off the shelves immediately. Now, they’re being resold on Grailed and eBay for up to more than double retail. Chalk it up to the influence of A$AP Rocky. —Karizza Sanchez
KAWS Pink BFF
At this point, pretty much anything KAWS creates is sure to draw attention. Whether it’s his limited Air Jordan IV collabs, affordable collections with Uniqlo, collectible toys, or giant sculptures around the globe—the artist’s work is always held in high regard. His playful BFF characters with X-ed out eyes are no different.
In March, KAWS announced he was releasing a pink version of his BFF character on his website and the MoMA Design Store. The toy, which stands at 13 inches, was available for $250 and sold out quickly. Black and blue BFFs re-released as well, but the special edition pink variation was definitely the most sought after of the bunch.—Mike DeStefano
Air Jordan III "Black/Cement"
It's a surprise to see that one of the most widely available sneakers of 2018 was one of the most hyped, but that's exactly what happens when Jordan Brand gives consumers what they've been wanting for 17 years. The Black/Cement Air Jordan III, the sneaker Michael Jordan wore in the 1988 All-Star Game, finally came back the way the old heads remembered it: With premium leather and the all-so-important Nike Air on the back. The shoes dropped during All-Star Weekend and instantly sold out. Not because people were trying to resell them and make a quick buck, but because everyone wanted to wear them. Some people even bought upwards of six pairs for themselves, proving the best stuff isn't always the shoes or shirts with the highest resale values that come in limited batches—it's the product that stands the test of time. —Matt Welty