Adidas Stan Smith
Way back in January, adidas set out a marker of intent with the re-release of their iconic Stan Smith. Celebrated for its clean lines and minimal design, the archetypical tennis shoe was soon seen everywhere.
Its popularity was consolidated further with the release of several collaboration editions, which saw the likes of Pharrell, American Dad!, Dover Street Market and most recently The Hundreds all put their own spin on the iconic silhouette. Adidas’ own Consortium label also pushed out a couple of highly desirable versions in reptile and ostrich leather.
The Stan is arguably the definitive clean white pump, offering both value for money and plenty of versatility to suit a myriad of styles.
Jordan Future
Nike’s subsidiary brand Jordan hasn’t
always been au fait with launching new lifestyle collections, but this year’s new Future model has well and truly bucked that trend with releases consistently selling out throughout the year.
Featuring a fully woven upper, a sole similar to the Jordan XI, and finished with metal lace tips, the Future is a shoe that manages to make a strong statement while remaining understated in its design. Its subtlety and quality craftsmanship marks a huge step forward for the Jordan brand as it swaps the overt basketball references it has often favoured for something much more sports luxe.
With the success of the Future, we’re expecting more refined takes on this brand’s stalwarts in 2015, especially the instantly recognisable Jumpman.
Asics Gel Lyte III
With the revival of all things running shoe related, Japanese brand Asics has enjoyed something of a renaissance. Arguably reaping the most benefits of our current cultural infatuation with activewear is Asics’ Gel Lyte III, while the Gel Lyte V follows closely in second place.
A slim, heavily stylised runner, the Gel Lyte III is regularly re-imagined, with renowned sneaker designer and Kith NYC owner Ronnie Fieg’s version and Asics’ own Christmas edition Snowman release coming out on top this year.
Other than these limited editions, the label has also been producing some great general release colours like honey mustard and striking black and white. In a market where New Balance is often seen to dominate the retro-inspired runner, Asics have positioned themselves well to overtake the competition come next year.
Adidas ZX Flux
Old school-style trainers may be big, but that’s not to say there’s a dearth of more modern designs. Another milestone in adidas’ stellar year was the release of the game-changing ZX Flux – particularly the Photo Print pack, which saw a number of bold, digital graphic prints transferred onto the surface of the trainer.
Building on the success of the Photo Print pack, adidas moved the goalposts again with the release of the miZX FLUX app, which allows you to transfer your own photographs or prints onto a custom pair of ZX Flux trainers.
Provided you don’t infringe any copyright, this is the perfect method of making something truly your own.
Common Projects BBall Low
Demonstrating an understated approach to sports shoe design, Common Projects has been credited with shifting the focus away from branding and tech innovations to luxury materials and high quality construction.
This year, the American-Italian brand branched out with a basketball range that included everything from low- to hi-tops. While the detailing and branding is kept, as expected, to an absolute minimum, the subtle differences between the brand’s classic Achilles Low and the new BBall Low (punctured front detailing and simple panelling on top of a low-key sole) make the latter worth the outlay.
Nike Air Huarache
Adidas weren’t the only brand resurrecting old school models this year, as American sportswear aficionados Nike re-released the divisive Huarache.
Arguably one of Nike designer Tinker Hatfield’s most inventive creations, the Huarache features an armour-like body over an exposed neoprene sock and takes inspiration from the Native American sandal.
Limited edition colour ways, including the Triple Black, Platinum and Love/Hate Pack, were met by insatiable desire on the part of trainer enthusiasts, while the OG Scream Green delivered a heavy hit of nostalgia which won many back around to this opinion splitting sneaker.
With a slew of new general release colours lined up for the Huarache in 2015, the hype surrounding this trainer shows little sign of waning any time soon.
New Balance 998
Since the marked rise in popularity of the retro runner, it’s been Boston brand New Balance that’s benefited the most. A formerly ailing label best known for being favoured by Steve Jobs, New Balance has sky rocketed from industry joke to the epitome of streetwear-inspired style.
2014 was particularly good for the brand’s 998 model, which proved itself a worthy competitor to the prevalent 596 and 420 silhouettes – largely aided by the success of an ongoing collaboration with American Prep specialists, J. Crew.
The Independence Day New Balance x J.Crew 998 sold out in a number of hours, putting the once maligned model right back on the map. While it’s got a huge amount of catching up to do, this elongated, chunkier trainer is not just back in the race but has earned its placed on the podium in our round-up.
Adidas Tubular
The final member of this list’s adidas triumvirate, the Tubular was a late 2014 release not dissimilar to the hugely popular Y3 Qasa. The trainer’s tube-shaped sole, lace holder, remarkably tall tongue and neoprene upper combine to form a truly distinctive style that’s proved itself a global success.
Adidas’ Consortium offshoot has already remixed the silhouette with some snakeskin-inspired variations while the metallic New Year’s pack was the second limited edition in as many months since the Tubular’s release.
Expect to see plenty more takes on this unique trainer in 2015.
Saucony Shadow 5000
Another brand renowned for its running styles, Saucony’s highly detailed Shadow 5000 model is giving New Balance a run for its money.
The END. x Saucony ‘Burger’ collaboration , it reaffirmed Saucony’s strong stature in the increasingly populated trainer market. Another hit release came in the form of the Strange Fruits pack, created in collaboration with cult streetwear label Play Cloths.
Marked apart by its heavily panelled design on top of a styled sole, the Shadow 5000 is certainly one to consider to stand out from the ubiquitous New Balance set.
Puma Disc Blaze
The Puma Disc Blaze, despite being one of the brand’s archived styles, had a hugely important 2014 – the last year has in many ways been its breakout. Not one for inviting huge fanfare and instant sell-outs previously, the Disc Blaze has seen a serious surge in popularity of late, owing to some particularly well-executed collaborations.
The likes of singer-songwriter Solange Knowles, illustrator Sophia Chang and the peerless Ronnie Fieg have all been given free rein over this heritage silhouette, and the results have propelled it beyond its usual niche audience.
The Disc Blaze’s versatility has been pushed to the max over the course of the year with a staggering number of fabric, colour and print variations being released in 2014.
With a New Year’s Eve reflective pack ready for release and Rihanna recently appointed Creative Director at Puma, the Disc Blaze could soar to new heights in 2015.
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