How to Build the Ultimate Sneaker Collection

No matter who you are or what you do, there are sneakers for everyone and everything. Love running? ASICS GEL Kayanos. Love '90s basketball? Reebok Kamikazes. Love hiking? Nike ACG has you covered. Want to be down with the kids? Air Jordan 1s. Love hyped sneakers? Grab some Yeezys. Money to burn? Balenciaga make sneakers too! No matter the style, the weather, or the cost, there are sneakers for every occasion, and you can build a collection to satisfy all your needs and wants.

I’ve always liked the idea of having a varied range of sneakers in my rotation, so hopefully you’ll find my theory helpful on how to create an interesting, versatile and stylish range for your collection. And, don’t get me wrong, this is by no means a definitive list; for each factor below, I could list 100 shoes; all I’m hoping for, is that this just whets your appetite and has you searching for that next pair.

So, down to it. There are some main factors I think you should consider when choosing to build a sneaker collection.

When the weather changes, so should your sneakers. When London becomes grey and rainy, there's no use reaching for your "Triple White" Air Huarache. They’ll die faster than a bad guy in a Bond film. What you’ll need are some darker colours, and maybe some Gore-Tex, but it is London, so we can’t forego style for the sake of function. Add some AF1 Gore-Texs to your collection in a "Anthracite" or "Olive" and you’re ready to squeeze onto the next bus or tube with zero worry about whether your sneakers are going to make it through the day. A nice dark colour will hide any scuffs and spills, the Gore-Tex will keep your feet nice and dry, no matter how hard the downpour, and well, we all know you can’t go wrong style-wise with an Air Force 1.

What about spring and autumn? That really in-between sort of weather. You know those nice crisp days; not warm enough for a summer shoe, but you’re not walking through sludge either. A pair of the National Park Foundation x adidas ZX 10000C would be fit for purpose. Low, comfy, stable, with a Cordura covered upper for extra durability and waterproofness to keep you safe from puddles, and breathable too, you know, for when the sun does come out. It does come out guys. Remember the sun?

Speaking of which, let’s talk summer shoes. We all love a good summer shoe right? Unboxing that crispy, bright, breathable, fresh pair; it’s what dreams are made of. Well, for me anyway. And for summer, not only do you want something that’s light, in both colour and weight, you also want something breathable and low. We don’t want sweaty feet now do we? In this instance, Nike Air Huaraches tick all the boxes. Originally released in 1991, and designed by Nike legend Tinker Hatfield, they might very well be the ultimate summer shoe. Literally "stripped to the bare essentials" (Tinker said so himself); so you know it’s light, and even the 2021 release are comfy enough to wear all day, with a myriad of colourways that have stood the test of time and look as powerful today as they did 30 years ago, and even come in a "Triple White"" for that ultimate summer freshness. Get yourself a pair of these, and you can run, workout and dance in them all day long - if that’s your thing.

Something that isn’t a must-have (but always has been for me); is having something that is a little out-there. Ok, what I class as "out-there" may be different for each of us, so maybe we can just call it a statement piece. Most recently, one of the most interesting, but wearable, sneakers I’ve seen is the Nike ISPA Road Warrior. The way colours, design, materials, function and well, the straight-out brashness of this shoe work together is really something. It even has a split-toe design, and I’d say you don’t see that often, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. Just a really interesting pair in your collection that you pop on foot now and again for the right occasion. A statement piece that will turn heads and have people commenting and asking you about them. And we all love to talk about our sneakers, right?

Another factor to account for when trying to build a sneaker collection is the environment. Thankfully, this seems to be something more and more people are searching for when it comes to their next pair of kicks. There are plenty of brands out there creating sneakers in more environmentally friendly ways, such as VEJA and Allbirds, and the great effect this has had on the sneaker world is that global leaders like Nike and adidas started to take note. They have since been creating both new and retro sustainable sneakers, made partly from recycled materials. Long may that continue.

If you collect sneakers, hopefully you have at least one pair that’s "environmentally friendly". That will depend on whether you’ve liked any of the current pairs out there or not, which is fine of course; but the best I’ve seen so far is the Nike Air Max 90 NRG "Recycled Canvas". It’s part of the "Move To Zero" sneaker line from Nike – a campaign in which they aim to decrease their carbon footprint and increase the use of recycled materials used in their sneakers. These Air Max 90s come with a grey canvas upper that’s speckled with recycled materials to give it an understated multicolour facelift. It melds this with pops of an almost neon green and cool blue, and a colourful speckled tongue to boot. They look incredible and some are saying are even more comfy than a standard AM90. So many wins with this one, I’ve lost count. There are plenty of partly-recycled sneakers out now, which is fantastic to see. And that means there should be a pair to suit you.

They don’t have to be Nike of course. The Parley x adidas Ultra Boost 21, another favourite of mine, is made partly from recycled ocean plastics, and looks great too. Although a good summer shoe in white, it does also come in a dark colourway for more of a winter look. Get both and you’re covered all year round. Simples.

A mix of textures, materials, prints and colours are a great addition to any sneaker collection. You can mix it up with individual classics, like suede PUMA Clydes or canvas Converse Chuck Taylors in more colours and patterns than you can poke a stick at. You can grab some Air Jordan 3 "Black Cements" for some elephant print or the PUMA R698s from the "Bright Pack" which came in a fluorescent yellow tennis ball material. Or you can even go for one pair that includes a range of colours and prints in one sneaker, like the Air Jordan 3 "Animal Instinct" or the Air Max 90 QS which not only has a range of materials in the upper, it has the added bonus of being part of the brands "Move To Zero" campaign as well, and is made from at least 20% recycled materials.

If you’re looking to add some hyped kicks to your closet, you can never go wrong with a Yeezy. Sneakerheads know what they are, and you’ll love them as they’re super comfy. The Yeezy Boost 350 V2 "Black" or the Yeezy Boost 700 "Wave Runner" I think are the best for an understated look. If you’re after something a bit more garish, the 350 V2 "Semi Frozen Yellow" will blind both sneakerheads and oncoming traffic, and the 450s, well, they’re an acquired taste.

Finally, some people like to add a designer pair of sneakers into the mix when trying to broaden their rotation. Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Gucci, they all make sneakers; the most infamous being the Triple S, the marmite of designer sneakers. However, it’s Gucci who have the most varied range with hi-tops, low-tops, silhouettes, prints and collaborations. If you’re after a designer sneaker to add to the collection and have that sort of cash to splash, they’re your best bet.

So, what are you thinking now for your next pair? Something functional, something classic, something designer? Whatever it is, make sure it’s something you like, that you’ll enjoy wearing. Just remember, The Sole Supplier has you covered with everything you need to know; how they fit, where to buy them, how to style them. It’s all here!

If you're not sure what size to go for on any of the silhouettes mentioned above, make sure you check out some of our handy size guides below: