As any sneakerhead knows, including myself, our job is never done for seeking the next best stylish pair of kicks. With the popularity of sneaker culture, new footwear is released daily. These drops can range from retro sneakers to newly designed sneakers. And depending on if they’re a hype sneaker or not, certain styles can sell out instantly. Now, with so many sneakers releasing in an already saturated market, it can become hard trying to scope and wade out which sneakers you should add to your already impressive collection.
Luckily, as someone who knows a thing or two about sneakers, it’s safe to say that you can never go wrong with collaboration sneakers. These sneakers are usually a limited collection that rarely gets a re-release. Most of the time, sneaker collections are collaborations between a well-known footwear brand and designers, fashion brands and more.
Sneaker collections are highly sought-out shoes because their designs aren’t something that you normally get for general release sneakers. This results in these sneakers selling out quicker and hitting the resale market for double, triple, even quadruple their initial value. It makes limited sneaker collections great investment pieces for sneaker lovers everywhere.
So with the year still off to a fresh start for sneaker collections, here are a few pairs of kicks that are already on the market worth investing in. From Converse to New Balance, these are the hottest sneaker collections to shop now.
5 Hottest Sneaker Collabs in 2022 (So Far)
1. Adidas x Sean Wotherspoon: Adidas Superstar SuperEarth “Sean Wortherspoon” Sneakers
Sean Wotherspoon is no stranger for teaming up with footwear brands to give a fresh retake on their classic sneaker silhouettes. We’ve seen his magic come to life with brands like Nike, ASICS and now Adidas is joining in on the fun. Wotherspoon and Adidas partnered up for a two-sneaker collection, known as the “SuperEarth” initiative, taking the iconic Adidas Originals and reconstructing its upper and outsole to create a fully vegan shoe.
The shoe’s purpose is to help end plastic waste and reduce material waste that goes into footwear production, which is something that Wotherspoon strives for as he promotes sustainable living and designs in all of his projects. The sneaker is repurposed with its upper and lining constructed of 100 percent recycled polyester. Its sockliner is made from leftover Ortholite, while the outsole is made of natural rubber from trees.
This shoe comes in two colors, black and white. Both colorways feature sketched floral designs by Wotherspoon with colorful floral threads emerging from the canvas, giving it a 3D-like effect. You’ll find nothing else like this on the market, making it a true collectors’ item. The white colorway was released in August 2020, while the black ones were released in October 2021. They retailed both pairs at $110.
Price: $93 at Farfetch.com for Adidas Superstar SuperEarth Black Sneakers; $142 at Farfetch.com for Adidas Superstar SuperEarth White Superstar Sneakers
2. Converse x Rick Owens: Converse x DRKSHDW DRKSTR Chuck ’70s Sneakers
If you’re a fan of Rick Owens’ eponymous label, then you’ll love the Converse x DRKSHDW collection. The designer transforms the classic Converse 70 into a minimalistic lover’s dream. These sneakers feature DRKSHDW’s signature elongated tongue, a molded rubber heel and toe cap while sitting on a slightly dramatic sole.
This collection features both high-top and low-top styles in black and white colorways. Fortunately, these sneakers just released globally last month and aren’t a hype sneaker, which means you can still grab a pair of these at retail price.
Price: $170 at Rickowens.eu for Converse x DRKSHDW DRKSTAR High-Top Chuck 70s Sneakers; $165 at Rickowens.eu for Converse x DRKSHDW DRKSTAR Low-Top Chuck 70s Sneakers
3. New Balance x Joe Freshgoods: New Balance x Joe Freshgoods 990v3 “Outside Clothes” Sneakers
If you aren’t familiar with Joe “Freshgoods” Robinson, he’s a designer and creative director from Chicago, known for his unique community-based and culturally significant streetwear designs. His authentic representation led to him collaborating with several brands, including AT&T, McDonald’s, The Chicago Bears and now New Balance.
This sneaker pays homage to Robinson’s childhood summers spent outside in Chicago, dubbing the name “Outside Clothes.” The shoe’s colorway takes inspiration from the great outdoors, using earth tones and sky blues for contrast. It features upper pig suede overlays with mesh underlays. Sneaker wearers will find the shoe comfortable, thanks to its ENCAP midsole cushioning, which combines lightweight foam and durable polyurethane rim.
Each sneaker features Freshgoods signature detailing to mark his influential designs. These details include a split “Outside Clothes” embroidery on the back of the left and right heels. Plus, instead of a traditional “Made in the USA” placed on the heel tab, it’s replaced with “Made for US” and “JFG” initials are on the sides of the shoe.
These shoes were released in September 2021, and retailed for $220. Unfortunately, the sneakers sold out instantly, but you can still cop a pair of these collectibles through sneaker resell sites for a price markup.
Price: $350 and up at StadiumGoods.com
4. Crocs x Salehe Bembury: Crocs Pollex Clog by Salehe Bembury
Sure, these clogs may not be sneakers, but the Crocs Pollex Clog by Salehe Bembury was one of the most anticipated shoe collections of 2021. For months, leading up to the global release, Bembury teased us with different colorways of the slide on clog. The shoe takes on a different silhouette than a traditional Croc with a fingerprint-inspired design.
Unlike any Croc before, this version is the first to have a closed heel. It comes with an adjustable and removable heel strap that gives you the option to wear the shoes any way you want. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Croc if there weren’t any holes for added breathability.
The Salehe Bembury x Crocs Pollex collection dropped two original colorways (Cucumber and Menemsha) in December 2021 with a retail price of $85. As you might assume, they sold out within minutes, but are still available to purchase through sneaker resell sites for a higher price.
If you don’t want to pay the reseller’s price, Bembury has been teasing new colorways on his Instagram account. Sadly, there’s no word of when his next Crocs collection will be released.
Price: $490 at Stockx.com Crocs Pollex Clog by Salehe Bembury “Cucumber”; $444+ at Stockx.com Crocs Pollex Clog by Salehe Bembury “Menemsha”
5. Adidas x Prada: Adidas for Prada Re-Nylon Forum Sneakers
Adidas and Prada have teamed up once again to give us the third collection. The 21-piece ready-to-wear collection pays homage to both brands with sporty and contemporary designs. While the clothing is a masterpiece in its own right, we’re focusing on the sneakers.
The sneakers are constructed of brushed leather and Re-Nylon, a fabric created by Prada from recycled and purified plastic waste collected from oceans. This innovative material is used in many of Prada’s collections. The Forum sneakers have a slightly chunky silhouette with a raised Prada logo on the tongue and Prada logo removable pouches on the left and right shoe.
The Prada Forum sneakers come in both high-top and low-top versions. You also have the choice of getting them in black or white colorways. The Adidas for Prada Red-Nylon sneaker collection was released globally in January and is still up for grabs with no price hikes.
Price: $1,120 at Prada.com Adidas for Prada Re-Nylon Forum High-Top Sneakers; $850 at Prada.com Adidas for Prada Re-Nylon Forum Low-Top Sneakers
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