Inked Mag Staff
February 28th, 2024
DYNAMIC DUOS
Fashion Forward Designer Collaborations
When it comes to footwear, everyone has their favorite designers. But what happens when two of your favorite designers collaborate to create something entirely new? Well, you don’t have to wonder. We’ve curated a collection of shoe designs from top names you’ll recognize, like Nike, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Porsche, Prada, Gucci, and more. While having one designer is great, having two of them pair up is even better.
Dior x Air Jordan 1 High
Introduced in 2020, this high-demand design was produced in limited quantities. Bridging the gap between street-ready sportswear and luxury fashion, the Dior x Air Jordan 1 High is drawn from a larger collaboration that spans footwear, apparel and accessories. Designer Kim Jones’ take on the iconic sneaker makes use of a white and grey upper constructed from Italian leather with hand-painted edges. Dual branding elements take the form of a Dior woven tongue tag, a Nike Swoosh in Dior Oblique jacquard, and icy outsoles revealing a Dior and Dior Wings logo on each shoe.
Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh
Designed by Virgil Abloh, former artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s ready-to-wear men’s line, this shoe was introduced at the French luxury fashion house’s Spring 2022 men’s runway show. This collaborative design is constructed with premium calf leather and features the luxury brand’s signature logos and prints. Abloh’s signature touches are also present on the sneakers, including the side tongue tag, text on the shoelaces and dual “Air” branding on the midsole.
Nike x Tiffany & Co.
The Nike/Tiffany Air Force 1 1837 is crafted in premium black suede with a Tiffany Blue® Swoosh and archival Tiffany logo on the tongue. A foam midsole, rubber outsole and Tiffany Blue®-accented pivot points define the shoe, which comes with black rope laces as well as three pairs of flat laces in Tiffany Blue®, yellow and white. All Nike/Tiffany Air Force 1 1837 shoes arrive in a co-branded Tiffany Blue® box.
Comme des Garçons x Converse
Cool vintage style elevates a street-ready sneaker stamped with a peekaboo heart and set on a red sole. This collaboration between Comme des Garçons PLAY and Converse features classic Chucks styling with a playful, quirky twist—thanks to the imaginations of New York graphic artist Filip Pagowski and Comme des Garçon’s own designer Rei Kawakubo. The shoe has a removable insole, textile upper and lining and a synthetic sole.
Porsche x PUMA “Icons of Fast”
Porsche and PUMA collaborated on this limited-edition shoe series inspired by the 911 Turbo to honor the sports car in a whole new way. To introduce the design, they launched “The World’s Fastest Sneaker Pre-Release” that lasted just 2.7 seconds, the 0-60 time of the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo. The shoe is inspired by iconic design elements from the 911 Turbo, such as period-specific paint colors, rear wings and body lines.
Prada x Adidas Superstar
The PRADA adidas Superstar first launched in 2019 alongside the Italian fashion house’s bowling bag, marking an historic moment for shoe collaborations. In 2020, the Superstar was launched in two colorways: the Core White/Core Black/Core White and the Core Black/Core Black/Core Black. The shoes are handmade in Italy in fine full grain leather and they feature the iconic rubber “shelltoe” with the iconic typography featured on the upper, tongue and insoles.
Tom Sachs x Nike “Archive”
New York-based contemporary artist Tom Sachs designed this shoe based on his ongoing research into how “our bodies meet the ground.” The low-top design sports a yellow mesh upper with tonal suede overlays and a contrasting white Swoosh. Orange webbing tabs at the tongue and heel make it easy to put the shoes on and take them off. The cream-colored rubber midsole contains an EVA wedge for lightweight cushioning, while a black waffle-traction rubber outsole yields optimal grip. Marketed as a “General Purpose Shoe,” each pair comes in a box covered in Sachs’ signature hand-drawn doodles.
Adidas x Gucci “Gazelle”
The adidas Gazelle was introduced in several colorways, including pairs that feature snakeskin, suede, leather, Gucci-inspired prints and velvet G-monograms. Each pair sports semi-translucent gum rubber soles, Gucci branding on the lateral side, and co-branding on the tongue, heel and insoles. Other details include gold foil Gazelle text on the lateral panel and Gucci lace tips. Each pair comes with special packaging.
Lusso Cloud x Tattooing Legend Bert Krak
Bert Krak lends his signature style to the Pelli, Lusso’s signature shoe. The most versatile option in the lineup, the Pelli offers unmatched comfort, including its innovative Triple Stack Technology, which features three cushioning layers for excellent bounce back. It also contains a breathable performance mesh lining that is incredibly soft to the touch. Designed by tattooing legend Bert Krak, these shoes feature unique yet complementary asymmetrical designs on Pelli’s signature waffle knitting in a neutral beige hue. Each shoe is adorned with one of two of Krak’s captivating designs—either a snake with a bird or a vibrant flock of birds.
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