The Best Pride Sneakers of All Time

Pride is celebrated across the world every June in remembrance of the Stonewall Riots that took place back in June, 1969. By providing a platform for the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride seeks to raise awareness and help abolish the inequality faced by LGBT individuals every day. For the last few years, we have been blessed with an insane amount of colourful, fun-loving sneakers that celebrate the importance of Pride and we're going to share our favourite ones.

Many companies recognise the importance of Pride, and designing a new pack of sneakers every June is not the only way they help. Nike's 'Be True' campaign started in 2012, and this year they pledged to donate $500K worth of grants across 20 different charities that all help and support LGBTQ individuals to thrive in a sports environment. Similarly, adidas work with Athlete Ally to aid the inclusion of LGBT people in sports, whilst Converse have a long-standing partnership with the "It Gets Better Project". New Balance donated $100K over a two-year period to GLSEN: an education organisation that makes sure LGBT students are supported and allowed to thrive.

So in no particular order, here are some of our favourite Pride sneakers of all time...

The iconic 720-degree Air unit on this AM720 remains transparent, allowing the rainbow-gradient materials on the upper to shine. This Air Max sneaker matched its box, which was striped like the Pride flag, so is guaranteed to brighten any rotation. To take a break from the colour, black mesh can be spied peeping through the upper, and matches to the understated lace unit.

One of the favourites on this list, the AM90 has been given a rainbow make-over, whilst keeping a clean, white mesh tongue and toe box. The Nike Swoosh has been transformed into an embroidered Pride flag, whilst the iconic TPU panels can be found around the lace unit in a cacophony of colours. The visible Air unit, which is so iconic to this silhouette, is housed in yellow, contrasting strongly to the black leather overlay atop of the midsole.

Definitely more subtle than the previous pairs, the adidas Continental 80 has swapped its usual stitching for something more seasonal. The Pride flag takes its place, of course, whilst additional rainbow tones can be seen on the Trefoil branding at the top of the tongue. The rest of the shoe is dressed with a classy, tumbled leather, with a matching rubber outsole and lace unit. Sometimes, simple is best.

Who doesn't love glitter?! Especially for Pride. Converse have taken a different approach to our previous pairs with these Chuck Taylors and have incorporated the Trans flag into their design. Stripes of blue, pink and white can be seen adding a splash of colour to the rubber outsole, as well as on the Converse branding label at the heel. The best bit though, a lightening bolt constructed of pink sequins dresses the lateral sidewall from ankle to midsole.

The Forum is BACK for 2021, baby! And it was only apt that the Three-Stripes Brand used the silhouette for their Pride pack this year. Leaving rainbows behind, adidas have decorated the low-top Forum 84 with a multi-coloured, floral design embroidered across the whole of the upper. The additional strap detailing reads 'Love Unites', as well as at the top of the tongue. This is one feel-good Forum that looks especially great with the matching socks!

We said in no particular order, but we definitely have a soft spot for Nike's iconic AF1. Constructed with a translucent rubber outsole and midsole, as well as an iridescent Swoosh, we are really stuck on what could have made this Air Force 1 much better. Tumbled leather across the body gives the sneaker that premium feel, whilst the Modern Pride flag, which nods to people of colour and those who are trans or gender non-conforming, dresses the heel panel of the sneaker and the top of the tongue above the Air branding. Dressed with a light-blue lace unit that matches the upper and finished up with a corresponding iridescent dubrae, Nike really outdid themselves with this Pride-exclusive release.

The earliest sneaker on this list, adidas celebrated Pride in 2015 with this uniquely paint-splattered Superstar. Pride is all about making a statement and working towards a more positive and inclusive future, and these sneakers certainly make that statement. With all the colours of the rainbow dispersed across the midsole and up the sidewalls, there's no mistaking what these adidas Superstars represent.

The New Balance 57/40 is a recent silhouette from the Boston-based brand and New Balance decided it would be the perfect shoe for one of their Pride sneakers this year. Unlike the last sneaker, the design on this 57/40 is subtle. Iridescent panelling outlines the large 'N' logo on both the medial and lateral sidewalls, whilst a red love heart can be found at the top of the tongue. Rainbow patterning adorns the inner lining of the sneaker; perhaps making this arguably one of the more 'wearable' pairs on this list. Premium detailing remains, with touches of suede dressing the toe cap and heel.

Unlike the AF1 from 2020, 2019's 'Be True' pack really hammered the rainbow design. This VaporMax Plus sees a pink and purple gradient popping against the black boning on the upper, but the outsole is where the magic happens. The visible, translucent Air units on this sneaker are coloured from shades of pink to blue to yellow, finishing up with a coral-pink colouring at the rear which matches the upper.

One of New Balance's most-loved silhouettes, the NB 327 received a make-over for pride last year. Simple colour blocking dresses the suede panelling on the upper, whilst a classic white underlay allows the Pride rainbow hues to pop. We love a Pride sneaker that isn't so obviously a trainer just for Pride.

Released this year alongside a bright-blue Air Max Pre Day, an All Out Utility Slide and an Infinity React Run 2, the Blazer Low '77 had to make the list. Dressed with a "Pink Foam" midsole that perfectly compliments the yellow foam tongue, this is one simplistic sneaker that screams Pride. The iconic Nike Swoosh is decorated with rainbow embroidery, whilst the Pride flag sits pride of place at the top of the branding label on the tongue.