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Collaborations, yet again, dominated the sneaker landscape in 2023.
Over the past 365 days, leading sneaker brands including Nike, New Balance, Adidas and more tapped top design talent to reimagine their coveted looks. There were several newcomers this year that shook things up (Jae Tips, Unheardof), as well as numerous veterans with classics already under their belt (A Ma Maniére, J Balvin, Union LA).
Here, renowned sneakerheads and content creators reveal the 12 sneaker collaborations they believe made a statement in 2023.
J Balvin x Air Jordan 3 “Medellín Sunset”
“The ombré design signifying the Medellin sunset was perfect storytelling on a shoe. We saw a Jordan 3 in a fresh color scheme that evoked emotion and brought many new fans to the silhouette. The AJ3 is also my favorite so I’m biased.” — JerLisa Nicole
Jae Tips x Saucony Grid Azura 2000 “Remember Who Fronted”
“I love a good underdog story and Tips’ story, mixed with the excellent execution and rollout of this project, made it a no brainer for me to place this project at the top of my list. Tips was a disruptor this year, getting the community to pay attention to an often overlooked brand like Saucony and giving them the long-awaited explosion of community excitement to be in sneaker of the year conversations they haven’t been in for quite a while — or ever, for that matter. The shoe, like Tips himself, commands attention in the best way possible. It didn’t wait for its turn to be recognized by the machine, but it took its respect unapologetically and the community responded accordingly with enormous enthusiasm and support. This sneaker felt like it was truly by and for the culture. Thats a feeling we don’t get too often these days. Not only is it my favorite collaboration of the year, but I have named it my overall sneaker of the year for 2023.” — David “Kari” Daniels
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Run the Jewels x Nike SB Dunk Low
“One of my favorite collabs of the year is the Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Run the Jewels.’ I love when Nike collaborates with people you wouldn’t expect them to. An underground rap group and Nike SB is the perfect match, both have a bit of grittiness to them. The colorway being inspired by their third album cover brings it all together. I’d love to see more under-the-radar artists get recognition like this.” — Eddie Win
Unheardof x Adidas Rivalry Low “Grandmas Couch”
“One of my favorite collaborations this year is the Unheardof x Adidas Rivalry Low ‘Grandma’s Couch.’ I really appreciate the level of storytelling on these, connecting the personal experiences the owner of Unheardof, Philip Lipschutz, had with his Grandma and how that was portrayed on the sneakers, the box and the other details included with the shoe. These weren’t really on anyones radar, but the attention to detail is something noteworthy amongst other collaborations this year.” — Andrew Dutton
Union LA x Bephies Beauty Supply x Air Jordan 1 High
“My other favorite collaboration was the Union LA x Bephies Beauty Supply x Air Jordan 1 High. The look of the Footscape woven material wrapping around the shoe made these one of the more unique Air Jordan 1 designs we’ve seen in recent years. They didn’t go overboard with colors, making the emphasis with these more on the construction and how the materials work with each other. I know the look of these aren’t for everyone, but I feel like this is a sneaker that will get better with age and more people will come around to them.” — Andrew Dutton
Eric “Shake” James x Adidas Forum Low CL “Day One”
“Favorite sneaker collaboration of the year is the Adidas Forum Low CL ‘Day One’ in collaboration with Eric ‘Shake’ James. To the Milwaukee community, most notably the youth, he’s one of the most selfless, kind-hearted and impactful individuals to their lives through his philanthropic endeavors. The ‘Day One’ collaboration was made to tell the story of friendship, and these sneakers unveiled a meaningful tale of shared passions in: basketball (gold lace dubrae), staying connected (two way pager on the inner tongue), style (a classic Adidas originals model), solving life’s little puzzles (crossword tissue paper) and the life-changing genre of hip hop music (mic keychains inspired by The Source Awards) whose influence flows seamlessly in sneakers. It’s also one of the most unique collaborations with a true buy-one-get-one feature, in which selected customers had the opportunity to gift a free pair of sneakers to their ‘Day One’ upon purchasing their release pair. When you think of a complete story that anyone can relate to, the power of friendship resonates with us all in a special way. To see Shake’s collaboration come to life was priceless.” — TJ Keasal
Nike x Cactus Plant Flea Market “Air Flea 2”
“My favorite collaboration of 2023 was the Nike x Cactus Plant Flea Market ‘Air Flea 2.’ Love them or hate them, the shoes are polarizing. CPFM doesn’t miss with the footwear collabs with Nike. So often we see takes on retros, but to see something that looked and felt new and different is always something I will appreciate more than a new colorway or upgraded materials.” — Ricky Shoebio
Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 860v2
“Once you start thinking about shoe of the year, it’s hard to remember everything that dropped and then condense them into a top five. For me, I like to choose honorable mentions that didn’t quite make the cut but still are fire and deserve to be mentioned. I would add the Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 860v2 as an honorable mention. Although the shoe was originally released in 2011, the v2 has more of a vintage feel to it. What I love most is the breathable mesh throughout majority of the shoe, and to me all three colors slap.” — Tiona Deniece
A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 5 “Dusk” and “Dawn”
“Another honorable mention would be the A Ma Maniére x Jordan 5 ‘Dusk’ and ‘Dawn’ collab that dropped to close out 2023. Not only do I love the story telling behind the brand itself, but the details like ‘A Ma Maniere’ in the bubble, the ‘A’ inside the side panels and the significantly shorter tongue give the shoe a more elevated look and feel.” — Tiona Deniece
Nike Air Zoom Vomero 5 “Doernbecher”
“My top collaboration of the year is the Nike Air Zoom Vomero 5 ‘Doernbecher’ for two reasons. One, I think the Vomero 5 is the silhouette of the year. It’s nice to see it becoming a favorite because in 2019 they were pretty slept on. And two, the annual Doernbecher collection is a top three project for me that I look forward to every year when it comes to Nike — the DB Air Jordan 4 is my grail. [Collaborator] Jaren Heacock and the [Nike] team did an amazing job. Every time I look at this shoe, I’m amazed about every aspect, from the story to the design.” — Key Lee
Teyana Taylor x Air Jordan 1 Zoom CMFT “A Rose From Harlem”
“The Teyana Taylor x Jordan 1 Zoom CMFT collab was hands down one of my favorites this year. As a storyteller, I appreciate how her upbringing in Harlem [New York] was intentionally showcased through this pair. From the thorns stitched around the Swoosh, ‘A Rose From Harlem’ incorporated on the flaps, to the large brooch, there was a perfect balance of boldness and femininity. I love to channel ’90s and early-2000s energy whenever I can, and this sneaker fits perfectly into that mold. It’s gaudy enough to make a statement, but can be toned down depending on the vibe. I know many people love having drop-front boxes, but I’m always appreciative of a detailed sneaker box. The quality oozes through and through on these from beginning to end.” — Kiara Arnold
Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 610 “Lil’ Swamp”
“One of my favorite collaborations of 2023 would have to be the Joe Freshgoods ‘Beneath the Surface’ New Balance, the 610 ‘Lil’ Swamp.’ The amount of detail on these is insane, from the mesh with JFG camouflage print to the vibrant colorway. Easily one of his best to date.” — Bianca DeRousse
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
