THE SNEAKER THAT STARTED IT ALL

SEAN CLIVER SB DUNK LOW CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

The festive take from Sean Cliver on the SB dunk low used velvety suede and had frosty, tinsel-inspired accents which brought the festive spirit to a skate staple. One insole had a print of elves making, er, unconventional toys whilst snowflakes flurry over Clive’s handwritten signature on the other. The usual perforations on the toe are performatively in the shape of a snowflake.

'I’ve not been in the sneaker game for as long as other community members but, for me the pair that made me fall in love with shoes has to be the Sean Cliver SB Dunk Low Christmas special.' @eja_sneakerheads

AIR MAX 180 1991

In 1991 the Air 180 was born via Nike’s most prominent designers, Tinker Hatfield and Bruce Kilgore. It was the first time that a urethane outsole was moulded to an Air unit and the designers used a blow moulding process to fabricate an Air bag that sat all the way around the heel (that’s where the 180 comes in). This new iteration did not come without controversy, AVIA filed lawsuits claiming it infringed on several of their patents but Nike countersued, it never went anywhere. The OG colourway ‘Ultramarine’ was re-released in 2024.

'110% Air Max 180' @aman_tak

'The Air 180 I remember the first time I saw it early 90s was unlike anything' @bebboz1

ADIDAS X MISSY ELLIOTT RESPECT M.E

In 2004 Missy Elliott and Adidas partnered together to launch the Respect M.E. collection, made for ‘the self-respecting urban girl’. Consisting of both apparel and sneakers, everything was distinctly Elliot. The Virginia born rapper is back with Adidas again, nearly 20 year later, for the re-birth of the Adidas Originals Superstar.

'So, anyone who knows me knows I have always loved footwear, that’s including shoes & boots! I did really like the Missy x Adidas Respect ME collab in 2004 so indulged in the footwear & tracksuits' @traycee_red

NIKE AIR JORDAN 5

The Air Jordan 5 first released in February of 1990 and was the first Air Jordan sneaker to feature a clear rubber sole. The idea for this feature came from Marty MacFly’s sneakers in Back to the Future II – which were also designed by Tinker Hatfield. The Jordan V design was further inspired by Michael Jordans ‘fighter plane’ performance and the Super Marine Spitfire MkVIII. This year we’ve had some heat re-release and new iterations such as the Awake 5, Retro ‘Fire Red’ and Retro ‘Tokyo’.

'We had some awesome basketball movies in the early 90s and fresh price rocking the Jordan 5s so that’s what drew me in, being able to pause the vhs to admire the kicks was something special and that’s what really inspired me and 5s deffo the start of my basketball journey' @mckeownnicole

'Fire Red 5’s at school, wore em till they fell apart 😍 now it’s 1’s , 3’s and 5’s.' @youngy__5

NIKE AIR JORDAN 4 BRED

The Jordan 4 Bred first debuted in 1989, combining the colours of the Chicago Bulls basketball team – who Michael Jordan played for when the Jordan line was introduced. The most recent release was the ‘Bred Reimagined’ in 2024 which retained the original silhouettes core features bur introduced modern materials and technology to enhance comfort and performance. It featured the flight logo on the tongue and the Jumpman logo on the heel cap, one of the things that have changed over the years.

'The Jordan brand is what originally got me into kicks. In particular the Jordan 4 bred.' @solesmoothes

'Initially it was the Nike shox back in early 2000’s. But it’s been the J4 that always had me' @randeepkang

'Bred 4s' @superdaddi

NIKE AIR MAX 90 INFRARED 1990

The Air Max 90 was originally known as the Air Max III however in 2000 when it was reissued it was renamed after the year it debuted. ‘Infrared’ was later used to describe the original red iteration, and this colour remains synonymous with the Air Max 90. The Air Max 90 has seen some iconic collaborations, from 07 with Huf, 2015 with Sacai, to 2017 with Off-White and up to this year with Patta.

'For me, it has to be the Nike Air Max 90 Infrared, the OG from 1990. Back then there was no internet to check releases or see what everyone else was wearing. I remember walking home with them in a bag, feeling proud and excited. That pair wasn’t just a trainer. It is the one that got me hooked on sneaker culture and the journey that came after.' @kris__foster

'Morning everyone, for me it was air max 90 ,AF1 and dunk high varsity purple.' @es_f.p

'Air Max 90s or Nike Blazer Highs for me. I was hunting colourways and retail store exclusive colourways to try and get one my mates didn’t have on feet.' @metrajeperdido

'Air Max 90 Infrared. I remember fiending for a pair desperately back in 1990, but the price tag meant it wasn’t to be. Been obsessed with that shoe ever since, and one thing led to another….' @jaywdee77

NIKE AIR FORCE 1

The Nike Air Force one was the first basketball shoe to incorporate Nike’s Air technology. After first releasing in 1982, it grew from a performance necessity to a street essential and became a cultural phenomenon. In the past 43 years the sneaker has had over 2,000 iteration but very little has changed with the design itself. It has been said that an Tinker Hatfield saw an early design and was so impressed that is triggered his interest into designing sneakers. Without the AF1 we may have never had some of Nike’s most iconic silhouettes.

'Air Force 1 took my love for trainers to a whole new level. I wouldn’t have started YouTube if it wasn’t for a NikeID Air Force 1 I made and wanted to talk about.' @schopes

'Maybe Air Force 1s.. I dunno if they were always popular but around the early 2000s with all the rappers rocking white on whites it became a thing' @ashbashsneakers

'I started in Classics but it's always been Air Max 1's taking first place for me...' @embracingsaloua_

CONVERSE CHUCK TAYLOR ALL-STAR

Through the introduction of the Chuck Taylor All-Star basketball shoe in 1917, Converse has evolved from a sports shoe and into a fashion staple. However, Chuck Taylors name was not adorned on the patch until 1921 when he became a key figure in the brands success The silhouette has been embraced by multiple subcultures, from punk to hip-hop. The Chuck Taylor was a staple of 80's fashion, symbolising cool and daring footwear.

'Converse Hi Tops in Grape 1986!' @vintagejaney

NIKE AIR MAX 97

The Nike Air Max 97 came with tech that changed the game, breaking through in 1997 with the first full-length visible Air unit. The 'Silver Bullet' was the first to hit the stores with a metallic silver finish and reflective details. Despite popular belief, the design was not inspired by Japanese Bullet trains but actually came from Christian Tresser watching water droplets hit a surface and create ripples. Now, nearly 30 years on, it is still out here on the streets and on the feet of sneakerheads.

'97s. Weirdly probably the shoe I have the least of now but I still remember them fist releasing and how in love I was with them' @tommyfaulkner85

'Air Max 97🙌🔥' @lisamartinoni

'La Gear high tops! Then the air max 97 bullets' @kam55ahota

NIKE AIR MAX TN

First hitting the shelves in 1998, originally designed to be a performance running shoe, the Nike TN has fixated itself as a streetwear staple. With the initial colourway inspired by Floridian sunsets and the palm tree lined streets, it pushed boundaries and Nike had to slow down production to produce the now infamous gradient colour effect.

'Nike TN’s! the unexpected but limited colour ways they have released. Once it’s gone it’s gone and most times doesn’t come back (so there’s still an excitement to have a certain colourway)! Hands down my favourite trainer in relation to detail and how unique' @creperellaa