4 days ago
Levi's Denim Adorns the Nike Air Max 95 in This Week's Best Footwear Drops
The NBA may have fully entered its offseason, however, there's still plenty of basketball to enjoy as the WNBA nears its All-Star break. While brands prepare for the festivities, we have more sneaker releases to track, featuring drops fromNike,adidas,New Balance,PUMA,ASICS, andJordan Brand. Per usual, let's look back at last week's headlines before diving into what's next.
Our latest sneaker feature recapped the10 biggest footwear moments from Paris Fashion Week SS26, touching on everything from Willy Chavarria's latest creations with adidas to a new partnership between _J.L_A.L_ and PUMA. As for the typical slate of news,Arts-Recrevealed its collaborative take on the Nike SB Air Trainer 1. Meanwhile, Nike Basketball unveiled theNike Giannis Freak 7. Looking ahead to next year, the Air Jordan 4'Toro Bravo'is rumored to be returning.
Another signature basketball shoe to be officially announced was theadidas Dame X. The Three Stripes also had a collaborativeClipsex adidas Samba design hit the net. It also offered a complete preview of the newClimacool Lacedsneaker. For New Balance, a 'Silver Metallic' pack of204Lsappeared alongside our exclusive preview of theJunya Watanabe MANx New Balance TF100. Rounding out our key coverage,Westside Gunnteased an all-red 'Scorpion' take on the Saucony Grid Jazz 9.
With all of the past week's major headlines revisited, let's dive into our list of the 10 most important sneaker drops of the week, starting with Nyjah Huston's new signature shoe with the Swoosh. Afterwards,head over to HBX to shop for shoes that are available to purchase today.
Release Date: July 8Release Price: $115 USDWhere to Buy:Select Skate ShopsWhy You Should Cop: Nike SB and Nyjah Huston's partnership takes an exciting step forward this week with the introduction of the fourth shoe in his signature line. The skate-ready sneaker is kicking things off in two fresh looks: a versatile off-white iteration and a 'Light Thistle' purple. The new model's key attributes include a mesh upper covered by a larger rubberized mudguard, Zoom Air cushioning, and a large TPU heel overlay.
Release Date:July 9Release Price:$140 USDWhere to Buy:adidasWhy You Should Cop:adidas has experimented with footwear designs featuring 3D-printed materials for years. While often stirring up interest, the designs have struggled with price accessibility, limiting the audience to early adopters. However, with the Climacool, the Three Stripes has struck a balance of uniqueness and relative affordability. 24 hours of spinning, baking, and compression result in the minimalist shoe. The sneaker is back in 'Off-White' this week, leaving it absent of any other color throughout its eye-catching structure.
Release Date:July 10Release Price:$170 USDWhere to Buy:New BalanceWhy You Should Cop:One of the breakout new models of the year has been the New Balance ABZORB 2000. First arriving on the market in 'Blue Agate' last month, it quickly flew off of shelves. For those who missed out, there's plenty more colorways to come, including this week's double header of 'White/Silver Metallic' & 'Black/Dark Silver Metallic.' The duo offers a silver-accented version of the ABZORB 2000 in either light or dark mode. No matter which you choose, it'll be backed by full-length ABZORB cushioning that features four distinct segments supporting each step.
Release Date:July 10 (Levi's) and July 11 (Nike)Release Price:$225 USDWhere to Buy:Levi'sandSNKRSWhy You Should Cop:Levi's and Nike have united again, combining the former's renowned denim expertise with a classic sneaker from the latter. The Nike Air Max 95, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has been upgraded with three different denim uppers. A classic indigo leads the way with white and black versions accompanying it. The tie to Levi's is emphasized with the inclusion of the brand's red woven tag at the right shoe's lateral heel. OG 'Big Bubble' tooling combines with frayed raw edges across the denim layering and a two-tone woven upper.
Release Date:July 10 (JJJJound) and July 12 (PUMA)Release Price:TBCWhere to Buy:JJJJoundandPUMAWhy You Should Cop:It's been almost three years since JJJJound first teamed up with PUMA. The two dropped several Suede sneakers as exclusives to China, leaving many waiting for their opportunity to grab something from the duo. Now, this chance is being delivered as the red-hot PUMA Mostro has received the JJJJound treatment. Brown and navy suede uppers each feature off-white notes at the laces and lining while the spiky sole unit maintains a black backdrop.
Release Date:July 11Release Price:$170 USDWhere to Buy:ASICSWhy You Should Cop:Cecilie Bahnsen's partnership with ASICS continues to blossom. The two have expanded their output of flower-adorned sneakers by taking on the GEL-CUMULUS 16. This ushers in ASICS' new 'Signature Series' program, which pairs designers' popular motifs with seasonal silhouettes. For Bahnsen, flowers are again the focal point, covering yellow, silver, and black colorways of the runner. Toggle cord laces are present for Bahnsen's pair, with a special flower-shaped lace lock.
Release Date:July 12Release Price:$200 USDWhere to Buy:NikeWhy You Should Cop:Michael Jordan's legacy as an athlete is one-of-a-kind and it's only fitting that his impact on the world of sneakers mirrors this. 40 years after introducing the industry-changing Air Jordan 1, the Air Jordan 40 is here. For the first time, Nike has combined full-length ZoomX cushioning with a complete Zoom Strobel unit. Meanwhile, designers cleverly nod to the 40 with 40-degree angles creating the AJ40 logo and unique traction pattern. Rather than present an endless flow of colorways, nine have been prepared for the coming year, with each pair featuring unique material compositions at the upper.
Release Date:July 12Release Price:$140 USDWhere to Buy:adidasWhy You Should Cop:CLOT and adidas' collaborative East meets West approach to footwear again offers a unique perspective this week. The two have reinterpreted the iconic Stan Smith as the Stan Smith Espadrille. Not only does the tennis shoe sport an espadrille sole, it also sees a deconstructed upper present in white leather and black in a synthetic jute-inspired construction. The silhouette's beloved green is also present as an accent color to both pairs, establishing a balance of retro aesthetics and newness.
Release Date:July 12Release Price:$180 USDWhere to Buy:SNKRSWhy You Should Cop:Nike has reminded the world of its prominence in the football (or soccer) space this summer. It reintroduced the Total 90 III, bringing energy to its lifestyle lineup, and has just upgraded its output by revealing the Total 90 Shox Magia, assembled here in collaboration with Maha Amsterdam. The 2003 sneaker returned last weekend and is back for a wider drop, combining the Total 90 with Shox technology at the heel. Two-tone colorways of 'Metallic Silver' and 'Metallic Black' highlight the heel in shimmering black and silver respectively.
Release Date:July 12Release Price:$6,580 TWD (approx. $226 USD)Where to Buy:INVINCIBLEWhy You Should Cop:Taiwanese streetwear boutique INVINCIBLE's latest ASICS collaboration made its debut at Paris Fashion Week. For those who didn't gather at the fashion capital, it's time for the global launch of the duo's GEL-NIMBUS 10.1 'HTTP 404' pack. Not only will the previously spotted blue pair be launching, but a new green one is as well. Both feature white, silver, and black compositions that see the sneaker take a deconstructed form with oversized branding and loose threads.
