This year we saw the reign of the Dunk, with a sea of colourways dropping throughout the year. We also saw New Balance rule the streets with some incredible releases of the 550s, 2002Rs, 990s and more. The Air Jordan 1 and 4 also had a solid year with potential sneaker of the year, the ‘Air Jordan 1 Lost and Found’. But as we look to next year, what can we expect to see more of? Perhaps something not yet seen? Will we see adidas make waves again after a rocky 2022?
It can’t be denied that On Running made a serious splash last year. Organically aligning with tennis legend Roger Federer and putting pairs on millions of feet, this new kid on the block is here to stay. Their staple silhouette the Cloud 5 set the stage for others to shine, and this season we’re seeing pairs of the On Running Cloudmonster move numbers. Available in monochrome and coloured palettes, this stacked and super comfy sneaker is one to watch this year!
An unsuspecting choice, but a silhouette yet to be exhausted; the Asics EX89 has that timeless skeleton we’re used to seeing in other silhouettes that have proven successful on the streets such as the Reebok Club C and New Balance 550. Later this year, Ronnie Fieg took to the EX89 and worked his signature magic to create three well-curated sneakers – the ASICS EX89 Kith Orange, White and Tan. I imagine this release to snowball into further releases, gaining attention and inviting more collaborators to bring this silhouette to the main stage in 2023.
Word on the street is that the Nike Air Foamposite is in for a resurgence. Commes des Garçons hit us with the black and white releases in November 2021 and was well received by fashion and sneakerheads alike. Could 2023 be the year the once highly coveted basketball silhouette makes its mark once again? Will other fashion houses and high-end collaborators be bringing us some heat in this high-top?
After a rocky year, the adidas Samba and Gazelle made their own moves throughout last year. Enjoyed by sneaker heads and fashionistas alike, the Gazelle saw a major release as the three stripes collaborated with Gucci on multiple pairs. Will this formula of collaboration and looking into adidas’ history be one for further success in the sneaker calendar? Being such a strong silhouette, we expect to see much more from the adidas Gazelle and potential collaborations.
Photo credit: @zakvelsvoir, @roseoxide, @arab_lincoln, @ceriseamusante_
