The Best Sneaker Releases of 2021

Without a shadow of a doubt, 2021 has been one of the biggest and best years for sneakers so far. Over the past twelve months we've seen the release of dozens of high heat Air Jordan 1 and Air Jordan 4 colourways. The Nike Dunk also returned for yet another year of hype, while brands such as New Balance slowly but surely made their way into the collections of every single sneakerhead.

Back in January, not many of you vibed with the Boston-based brand, and now, we'd hazard a guess that 95% of you have at least one pair of NB in your daily rotation. Whether thats because of the extraordinary comfort of silhouettes such as the NB990 or because of the creative direction of Teddy Santis and the cult status of the New Balance 550. No matter the reason, the brand has exploded this past year. New Balance's growth is just a testament to how fast-paced and exciting this industry is - you never know what to expect!

We also saw the release of hundreds and hundreds of truly unmissable sneaker collaborations and partnerships. Some classics such as Supreme x Nike graced our feet but we also had some new triple collaborations between brands and artists which really blew us away.

With all that said, we're rounding off the year with an article showcasing the best and most popular sneaker releases of 2021!

One of the cleanest AJ1s ever made, the Air Jordan 1 High 85 "Neutral Grey" kick started the new year in a "Triple White" fashion that never goes out-of-style. While you might think that this is just any old Jordan 1, it's actually got the exact same shape and structure as the original pairs from the '80s. This, paired with a selection of ultra premium materials, and you've got a sure winner.

If you're not a fan of high tops then Jordan Brand also released a low top version as well later in the year, so if you want a more versatile pair then MJ has got your back.

The Trophy Room x Air Jordan 1 High "Chicago" is probably one of the most controversial sneakers of 2021. Made in partnership with His Airness' son, Marcus Jordan, this AJ1 was limited to just 12,000 units worldwide. A nod to the legendary "freeze-out" which apparently happened during the 1985 All-Star Game, this limited edition pair was heavily botted when it launched. To add to this, hundreds of influencers got their hands on them weeks before its official drop date, leading many to believe that a serious case of backdooring was at play.

The incredibly limited nature of this shoe, coupled with sneakerheads being unable to get their hands on a pair, led this to become one of the most expensive shoes of 2021 on the resale market.

This colourway is just one of four that dropped as part of the Supreme x Nike SB Dunk Low "Stars" Collection, but it's probably the most popular pair out of the quartet. Inspired by on of the first collaborations between Nike and the New York City based streetwear brand, the Dunk High "Stars" from 2003, they translated this impeccably into low top form earlier this year complete with the metallic gold star patterning on the lateral and medial side walls as well as faux croc detailing. Resale prices quickly shot up for these and they continue to be one of the most sought-after Dunk ranges in recent history.

We all love our sneaker history here at The Sole Supplier which is why these were an easy choice for one of our hottest sneakers of 2021.

It wouldn't be a best sneaker releases list without at least one Yeezy. The Yeezy 450 "Cloud White" is a sneaker at least three years in the making. Back in 2018, Kanye West himself took to Twitter to tease this peculiar silhouette, and when they finally launched this year they were met with an insane reaction. Designed by the legendary Steven Smith, the sock-like Primeknit upper was paired with a sharktooth-inspired EVA midsole that was unlike anything we had seen before. If you haven't secured your size yet then don't worry, as our sources tell us that this model will play a major role in the 2022 line-up, so keep it locked for your best chance to cop!

2021 saw the release of quite a few noteworthy AJ4s, but one pair that stands out amongst the rest has got to be the Air Jordan 4 "University Blue". Giving the iconic basketball shoe a vibrant makeover, the "UNC" is a homage to Michael Jordan's alma mater, the University of North Carolina. Featuring a buttery smooth suede construction, it's painted in the institution's school colour. Grey speckled accents can be found throughout for a pop of contrast. The value of this particular colourway shot up immensely this year and we can see this growth continuing across 2022 and beyond.

Back in spring, La Flame took on the AJ6 for the second time with the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 6 "British Khaki". One of his most versatile pairs yet, it was done up completely in buttery suede and was decorated with his signature Cactus Jack emoji throughout. Stash pockets adorns the lateral and medial ankle, and not only can you flex in the day you can also do so at night as well as the Air midsole and tongue all glow-in-the-dark. Scott has really thought of everything for this release and we're hyped to see his next take of the AJ6. Rumour has it that it'll be inspired by the Houston Oilers, but we'll see.

A lot of sneakerheads would argue that the A Ma Maniere x Air Jordan 3 "Violet Ore" is, hands down, the best release of 2021. We think that it's definitely up there. Nicknamed the "Raised By Women", James Whitner's take on the AJ3 is inspired by the fierce females in our lives. Crafted from some of the most luxurious materials that any sneaker has ever seen, you even get a quilted sockliner for that extra plush feel. This comes packaged within a limited edition shoebox that has been specially designed for this legendary launch.

Is this a sneaker of the year contender for you?

We can't have a list showcasing the best sneakers of 2021 without mentioning the New Balance 2002R Protection Pack "Rain Cloud". If you told us a few years ago that NB was going to be one of the hottest sneaker brands of the year someday, we would think that you were lying, but sneakers like this are the reason why they have completely dominated the trainer space in 2021. Giving a retro-styled silhouette a completely and utterly deconstructed look, this might just be one of the hottest models that the Boston-based brand has ever released - no cap.

This unique take on a classic grey New Balance silhouette made this one of the hottest trainers of 2021.

Virgil Abloh was always full of surprises and he really got us with the Off-White x Nike Dunk Low "Dear Summer". In 2017, he took on a total of ten Swoosh silhouettes. Four years later he took this immense task to another dimension by releasing a breathtaking fifty Dunks, all with different colour combinations and materials. Out of them all the "Lot 1" was definitely the best of the bunch with resell prices skyrocketing as everyday goes on. This launch was unique in that it was done exclusively through SNKRS, with winners being allocated a random colourway. This type of release has never been done before.

While the Travis Scott x fragment design x Air Jordan 1 Low "Royal" also dropped alongside a High variant, we think that the Low was actually the better one of the two. The colour blocking on the low was a great choice and really made the shoe.

Made in partnership with Hiroshi Fujiwara of fragment design, the godfather of streetwear applied his signature blue and white colourway to the shoe, while La Flame injected his signature backwards Swoosh detailing and Cactus Jack emojis throughout. Everyone knew that this three-way collab was in the works, but nobody actually knew that it would get a public release.

Following his project with Travis Scott, Hiroshi Fujiwara was officially hooked and dropped yet another three-way collab in the form of the fragment design x sacai x Nike LDWaffle "Blue Void". Teaming up with Chitose Abe, he took her high heat hybrid and applied his own signature elements throughout. From the double lightning bolt motif to technical verbiage, they released a total of two pairs. This was the first of Abe's three-way partnerships, as she would later collab with CLOT, Jean Paul Gaultier, KAWS, and UNDERCOVER for even more coveted collections.

We all knew that the Patta x Nike Air Max 1 "Monarch" was in the works but we didn't know just how big of an impact it would go on to make. During launch day, The Sole Supplier team all had their eyes glued to their screen as we tried to secure a W. Released alongside a film series titled The Wave, they explore the themes of freedom, creativity, and truth within the Patta community. Nodding to some of the areas that the brand have drawn influence from throughout the years, including fashion, music, sport, and personal style, this is indeed a very special release which had a huge impact on sneaker culture.

To be quite honest, we didn't think the Yeezy NSLTD Boot "Khaki" would make it on to this list either, but the shoe marks the start of a new era for Yeezy. First teased during Kanye West's Yeezy Season 8 show, it showcases the direction in which the brand is heading towards. Leaving behind conventionality, they're now looking towards an avant-garde aesthetic that we're confident will pave the way to the future of footwear. We agree that this boot probably isn't the most attractive model on the market, but it's going to achieve some big things very soon. Watch this space.

The Nike SB Dunk High "Strawberry Cough" is no doubt one of 2021's most anticipated drops. Originally supposed to release on April 4th 2020 during 4/20, the weed-inspired colourway was delayed indefinitely because nobody wanted a shoe called the "Strawberry Cough" during a global pandemic, even if it gets its name from a strain of cannabis and not the virus itself. Stylised to look like a strawberry, it's coupled with playful illustrations by Todd Bratrud who is a long-time Swoosh collaborator. We just know that these are going to be a future classic, so if you want to cop then make sure you do it right now.

And last but not least, we have the Off-White x Air Jordan 2 Low "White". Little did we know that this would be Virgil Abloh's very last Nike collaboration before his tragic passing on November 29th. A creative genius and a true visionary, he brought so much to the industry in his four years working with the Beaverton brand. With a pre-aged Air midsole underfoot, the crumbling effect is actually the result of scans from Michael Jordan's game-worn pair. You'll even find MJ's signature scribbled across the lateral side too. By itself, this is a pretty legendary sneaker, but the fact that this also happens to be Abloh's final gift to the community makes this release even more special. While we're confident that he had many more projects planned for after his death, this will always hold a special place in every sneakerhead's heart.

From high heat Nikes to future forward Yeezys, 2021 has been one hell of a year for sneakers. Let us know if you managed to cop any of these, and also tell us which pairs you would have loved to have seen on this list! If you liked this piece, make sure you check out some related ones down below: