Collaboration of the Year: Revisiting Streetwear's Top Hits

As the old saying goes, it takes two to tango, and that's never been more apparent than in the world of streetwear. While standalone launches still see success in the industry, collaborations have seemingly become the new norm when it comes to delivering high-heat and hyped collections. Due to the ramifications, 2022 has witnessed a sheer plethora of collaborative works across its twelve months, so we here at The Sole Supplier thought it was about time to crown a winner.

We've taken a look at the data behind our clothing articles on-site to give you a breakdown of just what exactly you, the audience, were feeling this year. We're counting down our top nine data-lead picks, and believe us when we say there are a few surprising additions in there. So sit back, relax and join us for a brief trip down memory lane.

Coming in at ninth place on the list, we have October's collaboration between British skateboarding imprint Palace and high-fashion powerhouse Gucci. With collaborative works between high fashion and streetwear becoming somewhat of a running theme in the past few years, this duo managed to drop one of the iconic and sought-after collections of 2022.

The collection itself embodied both brands' playful and tongue-in-cheek approach to aesthetics, offering an array of sportswear-turned-luxe pieces, including football shirts and much more. Naturally, Tri-Ferg logos and monogram prints were featured in abundance, delivering co-branded signatures across the entirety of its offerings. Announced alongside an artistic video with a soundtrack delivered by The Prodigy's "Out of Space," this effort isn't one we're going to be forgetting anytime soon.

Appearing on the list yet again for the second and final time is Palace. With the year drawing to a close, the London-born brand thought it was about time to sneak in one final heavy-hitter, and that's exactly what it did this December. Palace tapped Italian sportswear icon C.P. Company to deliver a show-stopping selection of outerwear, all with C.P.'s iconic goggles and lens viewer motifs presented throughout.

The collection exists as a subtle nod to Massimo Osti, the innovative mind behind both C.P. Company and Stone Island. As a result, classic C.P. silhouettes have been reimagined, delivered through a retro lookbook-styled lens, similar to that of the Italian label's during the '80s. Boasting goggle jackets, duffle coats and even balaclavas, Palace x C.P. Company captured both brands' core identities and truly turned them into something special.

With the spirit of keeping things clean, Prada x adidas came together very early in January 2022 to deliver an all-encompassing collection of apparel, accessories and footwear. Delivering a fresh take on adidas' ever-iconic selection of sportswear, this collaboration sought to redefine the 3-Stripe brand's heritage from Prada's luxury viewpoint.

Included in the clothing side of things, we saw clean-cut contemporary styles such as tracksuits, lightweight jackets, bags and bucket hats, each constructed from Prada's famed Re-Nylon material. Staying true to their respective identities, both adidas' 3-Stripes and Prada's Triangle logo made appearances throughout. The only downside to this collection was the price point, with each piece commanding a seriously hefty sum, but for many, it was a small price to pay considering the magnitude of this link-up.

Despite the rumours that started earlier in the year, we think it's fair to say March's Supreme x Burberry drop was one of 2022's truly most remarkable and surprising collaborations. With a distinctly British theme at its core, the duo delivered an extensive array of goods, with more Burberry Check print than you could shake a stick at.

Matching denim sets, mac coats, polos and even Box Logo hoodies arrived bearing both beige and pink renditions of the famed print, offering an old-meets-new approach. Other silhouettes boasted a co-branded version of Burberry's heritage "Equestrian Knight" logo, somewhat dissimilar to the label's new branding and identity. What's clear about this collaboration is Supreme was clearly adamant about championing Burberry's classic aesthetic as opposed to its new one, leading to nothing short of a successful attempt.

Similar to the Burberry collaboration, Supreme x Nike ACG was predicted months before its initial release, leading to a significant build-up in hype and interest. By the time September rolled around, and with the gorpcore trend back in full swing, Supreme x Nike ACG truly hit the ground running.

Ideal for everything from the city streets to the great outdoors, this collaboration looked to embrace retro elements with loud pops of colour seen alongside distinctive denim and snake-print designs. Included, we saw an array of outerwear, tees, long-sleeves, shorts, pants, caps and neck wraps. With functionality considered, this collection boasted resistant Cordura cotton denim, Nike DRI-FIT and water-resistant properties, ideal for appeasing all outdoor enthusiasts.

Supreme x Nike ACG wasn't the only gorpcore-styled collaboration to see success this year. In late October, adidas' TERREX outdoor sub-label collaborated with none other than Japanese outerwear specialist and wander for a curated selection of clothing. This link-up aimed to combine TERREX's goal-driven performance focus with and wander's love for nature and the great outdoors, and it's fair to say it was a hit.

The collection included heavy Xploric jackets, stylish fleeces, bold hoodies and more, with each piece repping some form of tree branch-styled 3M detailing. Given the whole fleece trend that has been a reoccurring event the last few winters, the adidas TERREX x and wander fleeces garnered the most attention, with both the white and green renditions selling out at most retailers online.

Few collections this year sent the fashion world into a frenzy as much as the first The North Face xx KAWS launch in January. Within minutes of the news launching on The Sole Supplier site, nearly 15,000 descended upon the article trying to get to gather information about the upcoming launch, but they didn't have to wait long.

The collection itself reimagined classic The North Face silhouettes such as the Nuptse and the Mountain Jacket with KAWS' signature artistic style. Each piece flaunted loud and proud camouflage patterns with an emphasis on bright hues and colour blocking. In addition, the famed "XX" logo was featured throughout, further cementing this one as nothing short of iconic.

It's fair to say adidas has had its fair share of good collaborations this year, but for many (according to the stats, at least) one takes the cake. Towards the end of February, adidas x Gucci took to Instagram to announce the launch of an upcoming collection set to combine the signature silhouettes of Gucci with the creative codes of the 3-Stripe brand, and as a result, the news spread like wildfire.

Unlike what many were likely imagining, and dissimilar to Prada x adidas, this collection opted to embrace the luxury fashion side of the partnership, offering staples such as blazers, tailored trousers and loafers. A signature Trefoil logo "GG" monogram print was developed, gracing the exterior of a variety of pieces and truly nailing home that this was, in fact, a collaboration of some magnitude. The dynamic duo didn't stop there, however. Throughout 2022, Gucci x adidas have launched numerous drops, with some notably embracing the current adidas Gazelle revival we're seeing across fashion.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. To say this one came as a surprise would be an understatement, but when you look at the facts, there's no reason why this New Balance x Stone Island collaboration wasn't destined for success. It all started in early October when London-born rapper Dave took to the pitch wearing a custom New Balance x Stone Island football kit at his annual Santan Cup.

The kit itself combined earthy brown and green hues with black logos and finishes, offering a sleek yet noticeable finish. It is unknown if the kit was ever meant to see an official launch, but after witnessing the attention it garnered, both New Balance and Stone Island set out to make the kit official with a release in November.

Given both brands' upward trajectory over the last few years, combined with the fact the relationship between football and fashion is becoming stronger by the week, it was almost as if this collaboration was set to flourish from the start. To accompany the release, the brands even readied a matching pair of boots, famously worn by both Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka at the FIFA World Cup. The sheer amount of attention this collaboration generated was immeasurable, leaving Stone Island and New Balance in good stead to continue their longstanding partnership in 2023.

So there you have it, our top clothing collaborations of the year, according to the statistics. 2022 was truly a monumental year in general when it came to fashion, and it just goes to show with the right names and the right products, the idea of collaboration isn't quite losing its touch just yet. With 2023 now within sight, we here at The Sole Supplier are seriously looking forward to seeing what the fashion world has in store for us.