Sneaker News #65 – Nike Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Cortez with a Visionary Sacai Collaboration
Welcome to Sneaker News #65. Nike is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its classic Cortez by envisioning its future with help from sacai. Also looking back to look forward is adidas, collaborating with Sean Wotherspoon and ’90s icon Hot Wheels on a new sustainable shoe. Elsewhere, there’s a classic Sneaker News #21 – adidas’ Forum 84 Revival Could Define 2021 in Footwear 4 drop, the return of Nike’s Air Max Penny and a new ACG silhouette. New Balance has a new ‘Made in USA’ drop while ASICS is going futuristic with the UB5-S Gel-Nimbus 9. Check it all out below.
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Nike Zoom Cortez x sacai ‘White And University Red’ | Image: Nike
Nike Zoom Cortez x sacai ‘White And University Red’
White and University Red is about as classic a colour combo as they come but that’s about where the classic stops with this release. Nike is teaming with designer Chitose Abe of sacai to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cortez with a release that strays far from the original. This pair nods to the ’70s with classic materials like Nylon and Suede but it has fun with the silhouette using a sliced-together aesthetic that looks like the shoes have been printed twice slightly off-centre with double swooshes, tongues and collars. Head to Nike on August 31st for your chance to cop.
adidas x Sean Wotherspoon x Hotwheels Superturf | Image: adidas
adidas x Sean Wotherspoon x Hotwheels Superturf
adidas and Sean Wotherspoon’s fruitful collaboration continues but this time a third party has been added and it’s an unlikely one. The latest ‘Superturf’ brings Hot Wheels into the mix – the iconic toy car brand that defined ’90s culture. The shoes take inspiration from the toy cars by using eye-catching graphics, interchangeable hook-and-loop patches and overlays that change colour in the sun. As always with Wotherspoon’s shoes, they are environmentally friendly, made in part from recycled materials from production waste. Nab them from adidas now.
Nike Air Max Penny ‘Photon Dust and Summit White’ | Image: Nike
Nike Air Max Penny ‘Photon Dust and Summit White’
Nike is bringing back a classic from the ’90s, paying homage to basketball legend Penny Hardaway with a recreation of his first signature shoe. There are plenty of details to marvel at here including the jewelled Swish and the winged piping on the sides. The upper is made up of Photon Dust suede which is complimented by the Coconut Milk outsole. Nike is gearing up to drop these on September 8th.
Nike Air Jordan 4 ‘Black And Light Steel’ | Image: Nike
Nike Air Jordan 4 ‘Black And Light Steel’
First released in 1989, the Air Jordan 4 is back in black canvas and it’s the exact shoe that you know and love. The upper is made up of black suede while Light Steel finds itself on the eyestays, midsole and branding. These are the kind of shoes that are a staple of every sneakerheads collection, so you’re going to have to jump on them fast if you’re planning on adding them to yours. Nike will drop them on September 9th.
Nike ACG Lowcate ‘Solar Flare’ | Image: Nike
Nike ACG Lowcate ‘Solar Flare’
The ACG Lowcate is designed to take you from the city to the wilderness with ease. These are shoes designed for the outdoors and they have been tested to last in rugged terrain. Rubber outsoles and heavy-duty, tuned lug pattern grip slicks are made for ultimate durability while the Trailframe underfoot provide extra support when you’re carrying excess weight. Nike has set the release date for August 30th.
New Balance 990v2 ‘Made in USA’ ‘Navy/Sea Salt’ | Image: New Balance
New Balance 990v2 ‘Made in USA’ ‘Navy/Sea Salt’
New Balance’s ‘Made in USA’ range has introduced some of the best-made sneakers on the market and it continues with a Navy/Sea Salt colourway of the 990v2s. They are fitted with all the premium materials that you’re used to, including luxe upper construction and the ABZORD midsole cushioning. This colourway looks particularly luxurious too, pulling together classic, rich tones of blue, white and red. Highs and Lows has a limited number of pairs on sale right now.
ASICS UB5-S Gel-Nimbus 9 | Image: ASICS
ASICS UB5-S Gel-Nimbus 9
Asics continues to envision the future with boundary-pushing silhouettes and the UB5-S Gel-Nimbus 9 is a testament to that. Created by the Kiko Kostadinov Studio, it set out to update the classic trainer by adapting it with archived trail shoe features. The GEL-TRAIL ATTACK shoe’s line is melded with lace-like mesh underlays on the upper. The colourway is what pulls this pair of shoes into the future, using galaxy-inspired tones and pops of metallic. Head to Subtype now if you’re after a pair.
