June 3, 2021: Retail standout Sneakersnstuff revealed its latest collaboration with New Balance today, this time opting for the 237 silhouette. The SNS x New Balance 237 “Blue Racer,” as well as an accompanying clothing collection, arrives on June 11. It will drop on the SNS app, with sign-ups starting today and closing on June 10. It will also be sold via New Balance. The sneaker, according to SNS, is inspired by the “stunning blue-gray skin colors of the Blue Racer Snake” and is informed by the athletic brand’s heritage running shoes from the 1970s. It is executed with co-branded tongues, lightweight and breathable Cordura mesh uppers, hairy suede overlays and faux snakeskin accents on the “N” emblem and heel tab.
June 1, 2021: Nike and LeBron James have joined forces with Mimi Plange — a New York-based designer — on a limited edition capsule of the LeBron 18 Low. The silhouettes are vibrant — a signature look for Plange as her work is inspired by African art, rituals and architecture. Included in the collection is the “Higher Learning” colorway, which takes inspiration from a traditional letterman’s jacket and is wrapped in classic red and orange hues. The style will be available on June 2 via SNKRS and at select retailers for $170. Of the drop, Plange said: “It’s amazing to shine a light where there hasn’t been enough light: bringing voices into design. Having the space to speak a sense of self through design carries a lot of power.”
June 1, 2021: Aquazzura and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group have something cozy for hotel guests. The Group has teamed up with the footwear brand to launch a collection of limited edition in-suite slippers. The luxurious pieces will be found in the closets of select suites throughout the Mandarin Oriental global portfolio. The complimentary slippers will be available in select suites for a limited period at Mandarin Oriental hotels around the world. The cozy shoes featured a striped design and are topped off with a fuzzy pom pom.
May 26, 2021: Duke & Dexter has debuted its most ambitious — and perhaps riskiest — collaboration yet. The British footwear label partnered with Playboy to create a series of limited footwear and accessories that highlight the magazine’s cultural influence but seek to modernize its vision of self-expression. Archie Hewlett, founder and CEO of the shoe brand, said, “We’re really excited to show who the modern Duke & Dexter x Playboy is — subversive, tasteful and ultimately, aware.” To launch the collab, the partners recruited a “modern Playboy” — model and artist Luka Sabbat — to front the campaign. He was photographed by Menelik Puryear on 35mm in L.A. at the historic La Dolce Vita restaurant and was styled by George Cortina. The collection includes eight loafer designs limited to 250 pairs, which are retailing for $289-$346 at Dukeanddexter.com and Allsole.com. Also on offer is a rare bunny camo robe made in conjunction with British tailor Joseph Darcy, priced at $721.
May 20, 2021: Tamara Mellon has teamed up with D’Ascoli — a New Delhi-based brand that uses traditional handlooms and in-house printing to create unique and eco-friendly fabrics. Together, the labels have released a capsule collection of ankle-wrap style footwear available at TamaraMellon.com that pays tribute to the richness of Indian culture. The line includes two styles, the Oasis and Utopia. The Utopia is a heeled option that comes in a taupe hue with a deep mustard strap. The other option offers a rich red hue. Both styles retail for $695. The Oasis, which comes with a $595 price tag, is a flat sandal that comes in three different warm hues. Tamara Mellon and D’Ascoli will donate 10% of proceeds from the collection to CITTA, a non-profit organization that helps support development in undeserved communities.
May 20, 2021: H&M has partnered with British footwear brand Good News on a sustainable collection of shoes for kids and adults. The line includes seven sneakers and a slide style featuring uppers composed of banana and grape-derived leathers, as well as recycled cotton. Underfoot, the soles are crafted with recycled rubber or BLOOM, a material made largely from algae biomass. Each pair is offered in a range of 70s-inspired hues with a co-branded patch detail. The styles are currently available to shop at hm.com and in select H&M stores, with prices ranging from $35 to $50.
May 19, 2021: Beloved beach brand Reef is joining forces with everyone’s favorite positive apparel line, Life is Good, for a bright summer collab. The collection celebrates freedom and the spirit of the beach just in time for warmer weather, made up of an assortment of classic flip-flops with a new-age twist. For every purchase of the new collection, Life is Good will continue to donate 10% of its annual net profits to the Life is Good Kids Foundation, working to improves the quality of life for at-risk youth. In honor of the new partnership, Reef also donated $5,000 to the Foundation.
Fans can shop the new Life is Good x Reef sandals at Reef.com, Lifeisgood.com and in Life is Good retail locations. Retail price is $35.
May 18, 2021: Stadium Goods has teamed up with Chaco for the first time to deliver two new iterations of the outdoor footwear company’s beloved Chillos Slide. The monochromatic looks are executed in “Blackout” and “Whiteout” colorways, and released in men’s and women’s sizing. What makes the Stadium Goods x Chaco Chillos Slide stand out are its tonal Stadium Goods-branded Z/Straps, which are positioned atop Chaco’s soft contoured Luvseat arch-support footbed and high-abrasion EVA outsoles.
May 11, 2021: Baseball season is underway, and to celebrate America’s favorite pastime, the Wolverine brand has collaborated with glove-maker Rawlings on a limited-edition boot releasing just in time for Father’s Day. The Rawlings x 1000 Mile boot is crafted out of the same Horween leather used to make Rawlings’ premium Heart of the Hide glove. It also features an iconic Rawlings tag on the tongue, numbering on the collar to mirror the Heart of the Hide glove, plus a red contrast heel and two pairs of laces inspired by the lacing in gloves. The premium men’s boot officially goes on sale June 1, but is available now for pre-order at Wolverine.com, priced at $400.
May 3, 2021: Teva and Polaroid have teamed up to deliver a special limited-edition collection that celebrates creative expression and honors both brands’ nostalgic heritage. Together the brands blended Polaroids signature rainbow colorway with Teva’s beloved silhouettes. The capsule includes the gray Teva x Polaroid Original Universal for $70, and the Midform Universal Polaroid sandal — which comes in a soothing red shoe — for $80. Also included in the collection is a custom Teva x Polaroid 600 camera, which comes with a $160 price tag. The line is available today at Teva.com.
May 3, 2021: Skechers has released a second collection with artist James Goldcrown. Available now at Skechers.com — and just in time for spring — the new drop features Goldcrown’s signature colorful graphic hearts spread across an array of Skechers products, including: Max Cushioning sneakers, ’90s retro Skechers Roadies sneakers for girls, Bobs from Skechers canvas slip-ons and other foam sandal and slide options. The collection retails for $110 and under.
April 28, 2021: Del Toro has joined forces with rising Los Angeles-based muralist Alli Conrad on a collaboration in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Conrad, a self-taught artist that draws inspiration from Tzfat, South Africa, Hong Kong and her own Chinese heritage, will reimagined the label’s White Leather Chukka with her signature Groovy Baby Navy Blue design, which features whimsical lines. Each shoe will be made-to-order and 25% of profits will go to Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. The style will drop on May 1 and comes with a $595 price tag. The shoe will be limited as Del Toro and Conrad are only offering 25 pairs.
April 26, 2021: For its second capsule collection with Dr. Scholl’s Shoes, Kate Spade once again turned to the brand’s Original sandal. There may only be two color ways this time — a watermelon suede with matching sole and a black-and-white polka dot style in sleek leather — but both are quintessentially Kate Spade. Another reason for paring down? This time around, the two American brands were keeping sustainability top of mind. Using chrome-free suede and leather sourced through Leather Working Group approved factories, the two styles also include a soft fabric lining that is made from recycled plastic bottles. The sandal’s iconic wood platform also received an eco-treatment, sourced from natural beechwood that is certified by The Forest StewardshipCouncil (it comes with plant-based corn starch outsoles to boot). The styles, from $100, are available now.
April 26, 2021: For its spring ’21 line, Dsquared2 has teamed up with Superga on a unisex capsule collection of sneakers and baseball caps for men, women and kids. The collection blends both brand’s logos (including Dsquared2’s Canadian maple leaf design and Superga’s recognizable “S” motif) in red, white and back colorways. Low-top sneakers found in the collection are also constructed from Superga’s signature rubberized and vulcanized sole. Styles start at $185 and are currently available to purchase on dsquared2.com, in stores and select retailers worldwide.
April 19, 2021: Reef and OPI have joined forces to create a vibrant sandal line inspired by popular nail lacquer shades. The classic colors “Gelato on My Mind” — a cool, pastel blue, “Do You Lilac It?” which is a light purple and “Tiramisu for Two,” a smooth coffee cream have been transformed into flip flops just in time for summer. The sandals come in Reef’s Seas silhouette, a style that is equipped with a trendy square toe, soft padded tube straps and a sponge outsole. The capsule is available at Reef.com with styles retailing from $35.
April 17, 2021: For the first time, Sebago has teamed up with Engineered Garments on a collaborative collection — and there’s plenty for people to choose from. The lineup features six Sebago styles for men, each coming in two different colors, which were given a new look by Daiki Suzuki, designer for Engineered Garments. According to Sebago, the collection is a representation of its “high artisanal value mixed with Suzuki’s Japanese aesthetics,” and is also inspired by “U.S. sportswear and outdoor clothing.” They are executed with full grain leather, suede and asymmetrically textured uppers, which sit atop industry-leading Vibram outsoles. The debut Sebago x Engineered Garments collection dropped April 17 via Nepenthes stores in London, New York, and Tokyo, as well as other select retailers.
April 15, 2021: Veja and Shanghai-based brand Icicle have teamed up on two sustainable sneakers for spring ’21. The styles include Veja’s Campo, which feature chrome-free leather, and the Nova, seen in jute, recycled cotton and polyester for the upper. Both are detailed with Icicle’s signature off-white and beige color palette and include Veja’s “V” and the Icicle logo. To coincide with the collaboration, Icicle launched a companion capsule of eco-conscious clothes and accessories. The collection is available for pre-order online and in stores now.
April 14, 2021: Keds and celeb-favorite maternity brand Hatch Collection have teamed up to give women a treat for Mother’s Day. The brands today released three collab sneakers co-designed to help moms balance their busy lives in comfort and style — and they also take in mind the changing needs (and feet) of women during pregnancy. The collection includes limited-edition versions of the Champion canvas laceup ($65), the Ace leather laceup ($85) and the Doubledecker Terry slip-on ($75), each outfitted with a cushiony Softerra footbed. This marks the first footwear collaboration for Hatch. Founder and CEO Ariane Goldman told FN she decided to work with Keds because “with all that women do, and with their strength and hardworking attitude, I wanted to give them something they could run and walk in, by a brand known for ease, community and comfort.” The shoes are available online at Keds.com and Hatchcollection.com.
April 10, 2021: Superga has partnered with Japanese designer Teppei Sugaya on a line of unisex sneakers. Taking its name from the Italian equivalent, “Artefatto,” the Artifact by Superga collection includes four modern sneaker silhouettes designed to pay tribute to Superga’s 100 years of experience in shoemaking. Each pair features iconic Superga details repurposed, such as a classic textured bumper turned 45 degrees, waxed cotton laces and a heel patch logo designed to mirror the one found on a pair of Superga tennis shoes from the 50s. Styles in the collection range from $99 to $119 and are currently available to shop at Superga.com.
April 6: Zappos and M.M.LaFleur have joined forces to launch an initiative that helps support women as they interview and return to work amid the coronavirus pandemic. Together, the brands have curated select M.M.LaFleur pieces and head-to-toe looks available at Zappos.com. Furthermore, Zappos has pledged to donate $25,000 to Dress for Success Worldwide to support programs that support women in underserved communities around the world.
April 1: Birkenstock and Toogood have teamed up to give the classic sandal a contemporary twist. Together, the brands re-sculpted the shoe with the help of canvas, felt and suede — ultimately creating sandals with new cuts and puffy forms. The collaborative collection includes three styles: the Forager, the Mudlark and the Beachcomber. Each shoe draws inspiration from the idea of “objets trouvés, fragments of the past unearthed for collection and display.” In addition to footwear, the collaboration includes apparel and a sculptural bed. The line is currently available at t-o-o-g-o-o-d.com.
Highlights From March 2021
March 30: Biion Footwear and DC Comics have joined forces to create a limited edition Batman and Superman collection. The line will feature performance and leisure shoes featuring the iconic emblems of Batman and Superman. The Batman footwear features black uppers with a golden bat symbol across the toebox while the Superman shoe is equipped with a steel blue body and a red toebox. The Superman shoe is finalized with the red and gold “S” emblem. Both the Batman and Superman shoe feature a rubber sole and are ideal for golfing, boating and everyday life. The shoes are available for adults and kids sizing. A pre-sale launch began on Biion.com on March 26.
March 30: Brazilian footwear brand Melissa has created a limited-edition collection with Parisian vegan shoe label Rombaut, whose celebrity fans include Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus and Charli XCX. The release consists of two styles: Melissa’s classic Possession sandal and a “melted” version of Rombaut’s signature Boccaccio sneaker. “With temperatures rising around the globe, I wanted to bring attention to this by having our signature sneaker style – the Boccaccio – literally melting,” said designer Mats Rombaut. Both shoes are made with Melissa’s proprietary plastic material, which for the first time consists of 50% recycled PVC from factory waste and 30% bio-based renewable carbon content. They also are recyclable through Melissa’s sustainability program. Retail prices for the line range from $98 for the sandals to $169 for the Melting Boccaccio sneakers. The looks will be available starting March 31 on Shopmelissa.com and Melissa flagship stores, as well as Rombaut.com, LN-CC, Ssense and other select stockists.
March 9, 2021: Wolverine has joined forces with fellow Michigan-based brand Dragon’s Milk on a new limited-edition boot that celebrates the New Holland Brewing Co.-owned stout label’s 20th anniversary. The Wolverine 1000 Mile x Dragon’s Milk style — inspired by the hand-brewed, bourbon barrel-aged stout’s dark colors and notes of coffee, chocolate, vanilla and oak — features suede tanned in a waxy mohawk that exposes its natural grain and texture. Each pair of shoes comes with bronze hardware detailing and a removable metal fob in the shape of a dragon. An embossed Dragon’s Milk logo can also be found on the tongue. “This is a fantastic partnership between two Michigan-based heritage brands highlighting our commitment to craftsmanship and the many skilled craftspeople it takes to create a unique, handcrafted product,” Wolverine global brand president Tom Kennedy said in a statement. The boot, priced at $400, is available for preorder ahead of its release date on April 6 on Wolverine.com/DragonsMilk. Wolverine will donate 10% of all sales from the collaboration to the USBG Foundation’s Bartender Emergency Assistance Program.
