In much the same way, January is quickly approaching its midpoint. As the New Year’s resolutions either kick into gear or fade away, brands are picking up the pace with their releases once more. This week’s roundup of significant footwear drops features numerous pairs themed for Lunar New Year, with HOKA, Salomon, Nike, adidas, New Balance, and ASICS among those contributing to the list. Before we delve into each of the 10 entries, let’s recap the headlines that stood out from the sneaker world over the past week.
To start, Nike Basketball showcased the Year of the Mamba collection for the Kobe line, along with sneakers from the franchise set to release soon. Once again, conversations revolved around Supreme’s SB Dunk Low collaboration in black colorway. RIOT Skateshop revealed their upcoming SB Dunk Low release next week. A new Nike collaboration spearheaded by Hiroshi Fujiwara appeared, this time featuring a hybrid of the fragment design x Nike Air Force 1 Low and Air Presto. Over at the Jordan brand side of Nike, we got an early peek at the A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 3 “Diffused Blue,” scheduled for release in March. A sneak peek at the Air Jordan 4 “Forget Me Not” themed for Mother’s Day also surfaced, and there’s more to come for the AJ4 – a detailed look at this year’s “White Cement” re-release was shared.
In other parts of the shoe market, Stadium Goods declared that it will be closing its physical store in New York City and instead concentrating on online sales. Meanwhile, Ye made a comeback to the footwear scene with his latest YZY slippers, the SL-01, priced at $20 USD. Also grabbing attention was the unveiling of the “Dragon Ball Z” x Crocs Classic Clog “Goku.” New Balance’s 1906L model has joined the discussion on laceless shoes, with both its “Rich Oak” and “Black Suede” variations being revealed. Lastly, Taqwa Bint Ali’s adidas Adistar Pose collaboration concluded last week with a shiny silver finish.
Let’s review the main stories from the past week and then move on to this week’s top 10 must-see sneaker launches, beginning with HOKA’s “Tech Stealth” collection inspired by the Year of the Snake. Don’t forget to check out HBX for styles that are ready for purchase right now after going through all ten releases.
HOKA Restore Chukka & Mafate THREE2 “Tech Stealth”
Launch Date: 15th of January
Launch Price Range: Japanese Yen (JPY) – Approximately 129 USD to 188 USD
Where to Purchase: HOKA
Why You Might Want to Buy: With Lunar New Year approaching, brands are honoring the occasion by releasing special edition colorways of their designs. The HOKA “Tech Stealth” series features both the Restore Chukka and Mafate THREE2, inspired by the Year of the Snake. A snake-like pattern is featured on the upper of each model, which otherwise has an all-black design. Additionally, the Mafate THREE2 boasts a Vibram Megagrip outsole.
Sandy Liang x Salomon XT-Whisper
Launch Date: January 16
Launch Price: $150 USD
Where to Purchase: Sandy Liang’s Store or Outlets
Why You Might Want to Buy: Renowned New York-based designer, Sandy Liang, in collaboration with Salomon, has been consistently releasing successful designs over the past few years. Kicking off 2025, they have reintroduced the XT-Whisper, a design from 2000 that was recently restocked towards the end of last year. The sneaker features an eye-catching pink and silver color scheme, with layered construction that includes a Quicklace lacing system and SensiFit technology for a perfect fit. Additionally, Sandy Liang’s branding is prominently displayed on the tongue and sockliner.
Nike KD 17 “Easy Money”
Launch Date: January 16
Launch Price: $160 USD
Where to Purchase: SNKRS
Why You Should Get Them: NBA star Kevin “Easy Money Sniper” Durant has returned with a fresh new colorway of his signature shoe line, the “Easy Money.” This version takes the theme quite seriously as it features Durant’s own currency imprinted on the shoes, complete with both his face and jersey number 35. To make them even more eye-catching, they boast a color-shifting design that includes shades of blue, purple, green, pink, and yellow blended together.
CLOT x adidas Superstar “Lunar New Year”
Launch Date: January 16
Launch Price: $200 USD
Where to Purchase: JUICE
Why You Might Want to Buy: After CLOT shifted its focus from Nike to adidas last year, the collaboration between the two brands has been intense. Over the course of their first year together, the Superstar model was frequently modified, and this trend is continuing into the new year with a Year of the Snake-themed version of the shoe, along with coordinating apparel. The upper features intricate textures, while the sole unit sports spikes, and thematic details enhance the theme.
Nike Air Force 1 Low “All-Star”
*Launch Date:* January 16th
*Launch Price:* $130 USD
*Where to Purchase:* SNKRS
*Why You Shouldn’t Miss Out:* The Nike Air Force 1 Low boasts a deep connection with hip-hop, and Nike is capitalizing on this with another shoe designed around the cultural phenomenon. A sleek black suede base is adorned with shiny chrome-like Swooshes and heels. But wait, there’s more – the mudguard showcases reflective detailing that unveils a graffiti print in the dark. To tie it all together, a star-shaped dubrae emphasizes the “All-Star” motif.
JJJJound x New Balance 993 “Mushroom/White”
Launch Dates: The 993 model from JJJJound will be available on January 16, followed by a release from New Balance on January 17.
Estimated Price: Pricing details to be confirmed soon.
Where to Purchase: You can get these from JJJJound and New Balance stores.
Why You Might Want to Buy: This collaboration between JJJJound and New Balance presents a unique take on the 993, utilizing Teddy Santis’ MADE in USA line. The first colorway to be released is the “Mushroom/White,” which features a suede and mesh upper in shades of gray and brown, with reflective detailing at the tongue overlay. Each pair will bear JJJJound branding on both the heel and sockliner, and they come packaged in special co-branded packaging.
Travis Scott x Nike Zoom Field Jaxx “Light Chocolate”
Launch Date: January 19
Launch Price: $170 USD
Where to Purchase: SNKRS
Why It’s Worth Buying: In 2024, Travis Scott unveiled not just one, but two unique shoe designs – one with the Swoosh and another with Jordan Brand. Among these, his Nike silhouette, the Zoom Field Jaxx, is scheduled to release in a “Light Chocolate” colorway as the second installment from this duo. Despite being missing Scott’s signature flipped lateral Swoosh, the shoes feature Cactus Jack branding at both the tongue and heel. The color scheme predominantly showcases the dark brown hue that Travis has become synonymous with.
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 20 “Blue Neptune” & “Black/Pure Silver”
Launch Date: January 17th
Retail Price: $170 USD
Where to Purchase: ASICS Store
Why You Should Consider Buying: The ASICS GEL-KAYANO 20, which experienced a significant comeback in 2024 through collaborations with renowned designers like NIGO at KENZO and Kiko Kostadinov, is now available in two new styles. The “Blue Neptune” colorway features a light blue base contrasted with black accents on the overlays, while white and green are incorporated into the midsole. The “Black/Pure Silver” version boasts a black mesh foundation with silver detailing across its various overlays, and blue and white accents on the midsole.
Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Year of the Mamba”
Launch Date: 18th of January
Launch Price: $200 USD
Where to Purchase: Nike’s Official China Store
Why It’s Worth Buying: The Kobe 5 Protro “Year of the Mamba” by Nike Basketball, which was first released in celebration of the Lunar New Year last week in a “Eggplant” colorway, is now available in a “University Red” version, exclusively for China. The shoe features a golden snake design on its lateral side, blending with the red base to create a fitting theme for the Chinese Lunar New Year.
adidas AE1 Low “Year of the Snake”
Launch Date: 18th of January
Launch Price: $110 USD
Where to Purchase: adidas
Why It’s Worth Buying: Towards the end of 2025, Anthony Edwards and Adidas Basketball are joining in on the Lunar New Year celebrations with a special “Year of the Snake” edition of the Adidas AE1 Low. This sneaker features an eye-catching iridescent sheen on its molded upper, while the uppermost layer boasts a snake-like pattern instead of the usual black finish.
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2025-01-14 21:26