Eleven Can’t Miss Sneaker News Headlines From January 22nd To January 28th

Jovani Hernandez January 28, 2022

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THE “VIRGIL TOUCH”

Despite passing away to an aggressive form of cancer on November 28th, 2021, Virgil Abloh continues to impact the sneaker and fashion world. The full scope of what he had in store for his NIKE, Inc. partnership will likely never be disclosed, but the Louis Vuitton Air Force 1 collection that he previewed last summer has dominated headlines over the last week. Sotheby’s auction of a limited-to-200-pairs version of Abloh’s presumably last Nike Air Force 1 began on January 26th and has received bids of up to $70,000 USD for Lot 178, marking a significant moment in the sneaker’s 40-year history. With 10 days left in the auction, it’s very possible that at least one pair of the Off-White-frontman’s three-way collaboration with L.V. and the Swoosh will fetch $100K USD or more. And to think, Bruce Kilgore designed the model for basketball in 1982.

Another made-for-basketball sneaker that’s developed into a lifestyle and skateboarding staple (the latter courtesy of Nike SB), Peter Moore’s Nike Dunk Low – designed in 1985 – also spent time in the spotlight over the last seven days. The silhouette was widely-dismissed as a Nike Outlet mainstay throughout most of the 2010s, but the late-Abloh helped catapult it into the mainstream sneaker consciousness from 2017 onwards. Upcoming collaborations with Gnarhunters and inline paisley-covered collections demonstrate that Nike isn’t ready to shelf the 37-year-old design just yet.

EARNING STRIPES

Over the last 73 years, adidas has captivated global audiences both on its own and with select members of an extended family. Ye – the being formerly known as “Kanye West” – is undoubtedly the brand’s most important collaborator of the last 10 years, but a handful of other creatives, artists and influencers that’ve partnered with the German company are earning their stripes at their own pace. Among them, Bad Bunny and Beyoncé, the former having recently (indirectly) unveiled an adidas Forum Powerphase. There’s no telling if and when the Puerto Rican reggaetonero will rival the scale of the Yeezy line. The 27-year-old, however, has stamped his birth name (Benito) onto his latest collaboration with the Three Stripes, which is a step in the right direction.

Elsewhere in the sneaker world, Chicago’s Notre boutique revealed a Vans OG Style 36 LX set featuring its now-signature handshake motif, while the James Whitner-led Social Status was associated to a new colorway of the Nike Air Max Penny 1 donning interchangeable profile swooshes.

For a look at all that and more, check out our top headlines from January 22nd to January 28th here below.

Jovani Hernandez, Editor

Jovani Hernandez joined Sneaker News in December 2019. He’s covered breaking news about adidas Yeezy and interviewed Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky amongst his 5,800 posts. A sub-5-hour-marathoner, he now enjoys running sneakers the most, but fondly reminisces about Nike Basketball and Sportswear from 2007 to 2014.