Release Date: May 30, 2019

Over the years, Japanese luxury label Sacai collaborated with prominent brands including The North Face and Apple, before joining forces with Nike on one of the most unique sneakers of 2019. Most designers may pull inspiration from multiple sneakers, but Sacai actually combined two sneakers–Nike’s classic LDV and Waffle Racer runners–with every part of the shoe effectively doubled. Each colorway was enveloped in two-tone mesh with leather and suede. There was two of everything: heel counters, eyestays, tongues, laces and Swooshes and a stacked sole. Originally releasing in three bright and bold colorways for the first wave, the initial success of the shoe created an opportunity for expansion. More colorways would soon follow, as well as new collaborations with other Nike models like the Blazer, and rumors of more collaborations to come in 2020. This release marked not only a renewed love of old 1970s Nike runners, but Sacai’s place as a major worldwide player in the sneaker industry, whose footprint is only about to get bigger.

Release Date: May 14, 2019

It’s safe to say that Cactus Plant Flea Market and its designer Cynthia Lu had quite a moment in 2019. This year, the brand evolved from very much an “in the know” underground entity praised by the likes of [Pharrell](https://www.grailed.com/drycleanonly/pharrell-style-history-influence and Kanye West, to a mainstream player in the sneaker industry. This was due in large part to three wildly successful collaborations with the sneaker world’s biggest entity, Nike. Cactus Plant Flea Market released two DIY-designed, “Nike By You” sneakers–an Air Force One where you could pick your wording and colors, and a lowtop Blazer model
where you could choose your fabrics and colors–but it’s the eccentric take on Nike’s Vapormax model that really made waves in 2019. Everything from the green cord Swoosh, to the smiley face branding on the heel, to the gradient Vapormax full-length air bubble stood out in a good way, as this collaboration exposed everyone to the wonky typography and striking graphics that made this brand the coolest thing no one knew about for during its earlier days. Already in the midst of a fruitful partnership with Nike which has yielded three sneaker releases and an apparel collection, there’s no doubt Cactus Plant Flea Market will once again be a major player in the sneaker industry next year and beyond.

Release Date: May 11, 2019

The last 18 months have done wonders for Travis Scott’s standing in the sneaker space. Thanks to a string of successful releases, he’s solidified himself as one of the preeminent faces of not just Jordan Brand but the sneaker industry as a whole. If 2018’s Houston Oiler-inspired Jordan 4 was the appetizer, 2019’s “Cactus Jack” Jordan 1 was the main course, instantly becoming one of the most sought after shoes of the year. Clad in a brown and white colorway with an inverted swoosh, Scott’s signature brand of rage-wear proved to be ubiquitous amongst the younger demographic. So much so that Nike entrusted him with a Jordan I Low follow up release, a capsule collection of apparel with Jordan Brand and finally, an Air Force 1 release to round out 2019. This year “Cactus Jack”-collabs proved that Scott was a force to be reckoned with in the world of sneakers. That’s not going to change in the near future.

Release Date: November 15, 2019

Queens born and bred, Teddy Santis and his [Aimé Leon Dore](https://www.grailed.com/designers/aime-leon-dore imprint are in the midst of a hot streak that seemingly has no end. From camp collar graphic prints, to cozy sweats, to tailored trousers and lush knitwear, Aimé Leon Dore continues to carve out a strong foothold in its elevated streetwear space. But perhaps its best output of the year was its collaboration with New Balance which yielded not one, but two excellent pairs of 990s. Out of the two, this v2 easily stole the show, thanks to its quintessentially fall color palette and exquisite materials. Accompanied by the type of streamlined apparel you’ve come to expect from the brand and one of the finest pieces of advertising you’ll see this year, this collaboration was a home run from every angle. The sky's the limit for Aimé Leon Dore, as there appears to be no signs of slowing down heading into 2020.

Release Date: Throughout 2019

When Fear of God’s Jerry Lorenzo was asked to collaborate on a sneaker with Nike, he only wanted to do it if he could truly create his own signature shoe his way. He didn’t want to just slap a colorway or his logo onto an existing pair, he wanted to create something from scratch. He knew his vision, along with Nike’s world class designers would create something spectacular, and he was right. The Nike Air Fear of God 1 is a true blend of performance and fashion. It could be worn on the court or the runway. Designed with a knit high-top sock-like upper enclosed in a TPU cage—which allows for breathability while remaining stabilized—the Fear of God 1 featured performance upgrades most of Lorenzo’s contemporaries wouldn’t care about including. While the original release (notably, the black iteration) would drop in December of 2018, the sneaker would really gain momentum through multiple drops in a series of colors over this past year, including every hue from “Light Bone” to “Oatmeal” to “Frosted Spruce” and a Lakers-inspired yellow. Lorenzo’s stock at Nike is sky high, having overseen a handful of releases now, including his “Shoot Around” model, a Nike Air Skylon collaboration, a Moccasin silhouette and a Nike Raid collaboration, not to mention this uber-successful Fear of God 1. We’re all anxiously waiting to see what Lorenzo does next.

Release Date: July 20, 2019

At this point in his career, to say that Virgil Abloh is one of the biggest names in sneakers would be a gross understatement. The renowned designer, DJ and all-around tastemaker has been at the forefront of the sneaker industry since his legendary “The Ten” collaboration with Nike dropped in 2017. Since his breakout collection released, it’s been more of the same for Chicago’s favorite son, who continues to produce hit after hit with Nike, including this hyper-exclusive Carolina blue “MCA” Air Force 1, which dropped in July 2019. Released in conjunction with his exhibit, which ran at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, these “MCA” Air Force 1s stole the show. Equipped with all the markings of a signature Abloh release, from the air quotes to the zip ties, Abloh’s hot streak extended well into 2019. While it’s unclear where Abloh goes from here and which shoes he’ll look to reimagine in 2020, one thing’s for sure: He remains one of the Swoosh’s biggest assets.

Release Date: May 16, 2019

Justin Saunders is the man behind the mysterious brand/overall aesthetic/online mood board known as JJJJound. Originally a blog in the halcyon days of the early aughts, JJJJound has grown into a purveyor of exquisite minimalistic taste, quietly becoming one of the most influential people in fashion and “aesthetic.” Much like he did in past collaborations with New Balance and Vans, JJJJound took Reebok and instantly catapulted it into the collective consciousness when he dropped his version of the Club C85 model back in May. Ahead of the curve usual, as the industry had just about reached peak “chunky dad shoe” fatigue, JJJJound zagged once again to a sleek and impossibly simple Reebok, resulting in one of the best sneakers of 2019 in the process. While Reebok has ceded plenty of market space in recent years, 2019 saw them it up with “cool” designers like JJJJound and Eric Emanuel, earning some colloquial clout in the process.

Release Date: May 4, 2019

It would be easy to rest on your laurels year in and year out when you’ve already produced the greatest sneaker line in history, but that didn’t stop Jordan Brand from having an innovative 2019. From releasing a new tech-savvy signature model, to releasing successful collaborations featuring less-lauded models (Jordan I Mids, for example) with up-and-coming artists and designers (like Blue The Great and Facetasm), Jordan Brand could’ve just stopped there. But Jordan looms too large among the culture to stand pat, so Jordan Brand–as always– released quite a few retro Jordan models to high praise, including this black and red Jordan IV, our favorite “general release” of the year. Restored to its original “Nike Air” glory for the first time since it retroed way back in 1999, this Jordan IV led the way in a banner year for OG Jordans, which included the “Infrared” Jordan VI and the soon-to-be-released “Bred” Jordan XIs. Jordan Brand’s emphasis on quality retros in recent years is a welcome change. Look for them to continue perfectly balancing their new, cutting-edge releases with quality retros in 2020.

Release Date: June 20, 2019

Back in June, Angelo Baque and his Awake NY imprint reimagined the Asics Gel Kayano model to rave reviews. Draped in a silver upper with a mint green suede sole, Baque is said to have drawn inspiration from the Statue of Liberty. The sneaker also features advanced cushioning technology, so this shoe is equally ready for the street or the trail. In a year where sneaker’s second tier (Reebok, New Balance, Asics, etc.) dropped some incredible releases, this is arguably the best true runner from 2019. For a brand that prides itself on representing NYC to the fullest, pulling inspiration from the Statue of Liberty was a great way to go. Awake NY is a brand on the rise and we can’t wait to see what its next move is.

Release Date: January 18, 2019

With Off-White’s Virgil Abloh as the head designer at Louis Vuitton, there was undoubtedly going to be top-tier luxury sneakers. For his first men’s sneaker design for the maison, he crafted this magnificent ode to classic 1980s basketball kicks. Releasing in high, mid and low-top iterations, this high-top really set itself apart amongst others in the “luxury sneaker” category. Drawing inspiration from shoes like the Avia 880 and the Jordan III, Abloh put a modern spin on the old-school high-top. With black and grey leather paneling throughout, a sole reminiscent of the Jordan III and smooth golden script branding on the side, Abloh’s premium basketball shoe was nothing but net. While his deconstructed Nike collaborations have become a thing of legend over the past two years, no one really knew what to expect when he was faced with creating a more premium sneaker at Louis Vuitton. While it’s certainly a departure from his Nike designs, there’s no doubt that he delivered.