Since the early 2000′s sneaker companies have collaborated with street-brands, rappers, athletes and influences to provide a vast array of sneakers for our wearing and collecting pleasures. During the last decade or so, these are the sneakers that have changed the landscape of how sneaker buyers buy sneaker and collect.
12) Adidas Super Star Ape
Before Nigo decided to start pumping out his own sneakers he started out with a collabo with Adidas and put his own flair on top of Adidas already classic Super star shoe. One of the first streetwear sneaker collabos done at the time.
11) Air Jordan 11 Retro (Any color)
When they were first retro’d in the early 2000′s these flew off the shelves the same day. This is pre-Internet hype before everyone was really into the whole Jordan. Ten years later, the sneaker sells out in minutes. What may draw people into this sneaker is the patent leather and the flashiness of the shoe is undeniable.
10) Ronnie Fieg & ASICS GEL Lyte III
You can say Ronnie Fieg alone gave Asics life in the 2000′s with his crazy color collabs that were more than offend always sold out. To date, sneaker heads line up for Ronnie Fieg Asics the same as they would for any Jordan release.
9) Adidas Jeremy Scott JS Wings
Even though these are considered causal sneakers, there are not for everyone. Over the last few years, Jeremy Scott and Adidas have established the Jeremy Scott brand as being over the top. Seen on such artists like Justin Bieber, 2 Chainz, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne, Jeremy Scott has created niche market for himself.
8) Nike Dunk Low Pro SB “Paris”
Probably one of the more important dunk releases in the last 12 years. The chances of you landing a pair of theses are 0 to none. Only 202 pairs were every made, so only people in the know or extreme sneaker heads like Clark Kent, Wale and Mayor would have a pair. If you ever saw a pair on eBay chances are you’re paying somewhere along the lines of $3,500.
7) A Bathing Ape Bapesta
a clear copy of Nike’s AF1 but they came in hundreds of colors and people were willing to spend the extra mula to get them. They did well enough that Nike started releasing their own AF 1 series in multicolor formats like Bapes. Nike saw the influence that Bape had in the Hip hop community being sported by all your favorite rapper at the time.
6) Parra x Patta x Nike Air Max 1
This sneaker really put Parra and Patta on the sneaker map when these were released. The materials that were used was superior , mixing nylon with terry cloth and adding a touch of suede made this sneaker high end. And the use colors were more than eye popping.
5) Nike Staple Design Dunk
One of the first sneakers to cause riots pre-hypebeast and resellers, the sneaker was really meant for the sneakerheads. The downsize to this release was that only 30 pairs were made for Jeff Staples Reed store.
4) Nike LeBron 8 (Southbeach)
Prior to the release of the LBJ 8′s, LeBron’s sneaker saw dark colorways not much color. Forward to LBJ’s signing with the Miami, Nike unveiled the South Beach colorway, probably one of the best colorways Nike has ever put together. Since then we’ve seen Nike mimic the colorway on other sneakers or brands have used the colorway on their merch everything from tee, hoodies and hats. The color way might be also be the most used custom colorway used by artists like Mache and El Cappy.
3) Nike Air Yeezy’s
Loved by hypebeast and resellers the Air Yeezy’s are the hate it or love it sneakers. Kanye and Nike never thought this sneaker would see this much hype. Neither Jayz or 50 Cent were able to move sneakers like this at the peak of their careers but Kanye ‘s Yeezy most recently the Yeezy 2′s had people lining up a month early for a shoe that wasn’t even announced. That alone showed Kanye’s cultural impact on the sneaker culture.
2) Nike Air Foamposite Galaxy
Where do we start with these? Everyone wanted this shoe, you name them, non-sneakersheads, hypebeasts, resellers, mothers, babies anyone with feet… This might have been the Foamposite that pushed the sneaker to the mainstream. Outrageous eBay auctions, mall closings and this might have been the shoe that started the dreaded ticket raffle to get a show, thanks for ruining fun while it lasted.
1) Air Jordan III Retro (Black Cement)
In my opinion of course these are probably the most comfortable Jordans ever made. The black cements is a sneaker you could own 20 pairs and pretty much wear everyday with anything jeans, shorts, on a boat, the beach doesn’t matter, the subtle design and colors makes you fit in anywhere. This is the shoe that made Tinker Hatfield a legend in the sneaker game, its one of the more iconic sneakers of all time.
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The 12 Most Important Sneakers Over The Last Decade was originally published on giantlife.com
