Originally associated with athleticism, sneakers have surpassed this label and are now seen as a commercial or fashion item. Sneakers have established themselves from sportswear and street style to runway couture. This year has seen a number of great sneakers, and we’ve compiled a list of some of the best sneakers of 2022. Continue reading to learn more about them.
Best Sneakers of 2022
Gucci x Adidas Gazelle
Released under a collaboration between luxurious Italian fashion house, Gucci and three stripes sports brand, adidas; Gazelle is a vintage style silhouette which draws inspiration from the 80s and 90s. Featuring monogramed fabric and leather accents, the co-branded designs have semi-translucent rubber gum soles. They were unveiled at Gucci’s Fall ’22 runway presentation.
Nike Hot Step Air Terra
The highly sought-after pair has an upper made of fine leather and is completely white. The toe box, eyelets, and tongue feature chrome trim that accentuates the NOCTA branding. The pair’s lateral sides are fully perforated to give it a retro look. The white shoes have light blue insoles added to them to offer some color. The heels of the pair also have the arc-like overlays. To offer maximum comfort, the shoe’s back features an air bubble.
Union x Air Jordan 2
The Jordan 2 Retro Union Grey Fog honors the partnership between Jordan Brand and LA-based boutique Union. The offering is a vintage silhouette with smoky grey and white upper, constructed with mixed-material featuring suede and canvas. The pair’s finishing touches include cream colored shoelaces, blue accents on the eye stays, and a bright gold UN/LA label. The ankle panel of the shoes has dimple-like grooves. Red accents can be seen on the tongue and collar label as well. A white outsole completes the look.
Travis Scott x Nike Air Max 1
The Air Max 1 by Tinker Hatfield has an outdoor-themed webbing top with a La Flame twist. The shoe’s outdoor appeal is enhanced by the nubuck tongue, mudguard, and overlays. The medial swoosh faces the right way, while the lateral swoosh is reversed. A Nike Pocket Knife-inspired strap with a knotted lacing mechanism is adorned with the upper eye stays and heel. On the outsole, CACTUS CORPORATION’s logo completes the look. While the “Saturn Gold” colorway is a tonal design with Saturn Gold, Tea Tree Mist, and Tent colors, “Baroque Brown” is clothed in a Lemon Drop, Wheat, Chile Red, and Baroque Brown colors.
Nike Kobe 6 Protro ‘Mambacita Sweet 16′
To honor Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi, Nike created the Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet Sixteen.” The sneaker represents Kobe’s alter ego – the black mamba snake – with black scales on the upper. The Swoosh, tongue logo, and leather back panels all include white accents. The Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation crest replaces the conventional Kobe signature on the heel, with the words “Kobe” and “Gigi” written on the left and right shoes, respectively. Gigi’s AAU jersey number is represented by a gilded “2” on the lateral window. With a design that includes angel wings, a halo, the moniker “Mambacita,” and another “2,” the insoles further pay tribute to Gigi.
Nike Kobe 6 Protro “All-Star”
Nike continues to carry the signature collection as a tribute to Kobe Bryant. The West All-Star team’s jerseys served as inspiration for the pair’s primary red color scheme. The white Swoosh insignia on the shoe’s top features an embossed finish. The heel counter is black, and the outsole is translucent.
Jordan 1 High fragment design x Travis Scott
The Jordan 1 High fragment design x Travis Scott “Military Blue” colorway draws inspiration from both Travis Scott’s 2019 Air Jordan 1 collaboration and the Fragment’s “Royal” hue from 2014.
This three-way collaboration between Travis Scott’s Fragment, Jordan Brand, and Hiroshi Fujiwara’s Fragment includes a pair of sneakers with tumbled high-quality leather and reverse Swooshes on both sides of the shoe. The left heel of Travis Scott’s shoe features a stitched-up smiling face as the centerpiece of his distinctive design. The tongue and medial sides continue to bear the Cactus Jack branding. On the other side, the double lightning bolt pattern on the heel symbolizes Fragment’s creations. Each heel has engravings of the Cactus Jack and Fragment symbols as well.
New Balance 990v3 Made in USA “Moonbeam” sneakers
NB 990, the greatest running shoe, with a beautifully subtle grey color scheme when it initially appeared on store shelves in 1982. The 990 was a symbol of excellence and outstanding taste for both ardent runners and trend-setters. Since 1982, the design has been updated, and there are now additional color choices, but the 990 still exudes an air of aspirational luxury. The 990v3 has ENCAP midsole cushioning and superior upper construction.
This was the round-up of our favorites and let us know what were your favorite sneaker brands and sneakers this year.
