The Best Retailer Sneaker Collaborations of All Time

Sneaker collaborations undeniably ignite the excitement in us when looking for new pairs to add to our collection, keeping us sneakerheads on our toes to see the final piece created when two labels come together.

There's no denying that collaborations between celebrities and fashion labels have flooded the sneaker market these recent years. So why not put them aside and take a closer look at some of the best collaborations from our favourite sneaker retailers?

Regardless of where you're from, we do not doubt you have a favourite sneaker and streetwear store to go to where you see yourself as one of their most loyal customers. In this list, we curated what we think are the best sneaker collaborations designed by community-favourite retailers such as Footpatrol, size?, KITH, and much more.

Chris Gibbs-led fashion and footwear boutique Union LA is famously known as one of the most respected names in the industry for its high-heat sneaker and streetwear releases. In 2018, the retailer joined forces with Nike and Jordan Brand to deliver a vintage take on Michael Jordan's all-time classic: the Air Jordan 1 silhouette.

The collaborative ensemble offers the Nike Air Jordan 1 in two colourways: the Union LA x AJ1 High NRG "Black Toe" and the "Storm Blue". Both pairs arrive with supple leather and suede panels for a premium look, while the exposed foam tongues and yellowing elements give the design a vintage flair.

As these two pairs hold grail status to many sneakerheads, collaborations that later followed, such as the Air Jordan 4 "Off-Noir" and "Guava Ice", also received incredible hype.

Renowned American fashion business owner James Whitner delivered the highly coveted A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 3 in 2021 through his Atlanta-based luxury streetwear boutique. The Whitaker Group owner's take on the AJ3 expresses his love for the silhouette as he was growing up and remixes it with AMM's luxury aesthetic.

The AMM x Air Jordan 3 features tumbled leather and suede panels in white and grey with quilted satin interior lining reminiscent of luxury handbags. Whitner maintained this premium style throughout the other A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan releases like the AMM x AJ1 High and the AJ2.

For Air Max 1 enthusiasts, the atmos x Nike Air Max 1 "Elephant" is one of the best AM1 colourways ever created. Introduced in 2007 by Tokyo-based streetwear and sneaker boutique atmos, the AM1 "Elephant" borrows the iconic elephant print first seen on Michael Jordan's AJ3 designed by Tinker Hatfield in 1988.

In 2017, the atmos x Nike AM1 made a grand comeback to the sneaker scene as part of Nike's annual Air Max Day event — although it was just as limited as we expected due to the hype.

So are there any possibilities that these will get another restock? Only time will tell.

Considering that the Nike Air Max 1 is the silhouette that ignited the Air Max dynasty, its presence in sneaker communities around the globe is far from diminishing. In 2009, Amsterdam-based sneaker and streetwear retailer Patta joined forces to deliver the Air Max 1 "Chlorophyll", followed by the "Cherrywood" in 2010.

In 2021, the Dutch label and the Swoosh reunited for the Patta x Nike Air Max 1 "Monarch". The noteworthy feature of this pair is the mudguards revamped with a wavy shape which continued to the subsequent colourways like the "Noise Aqua".

Ronnie Fieg established Korean sneaker collaborations in 2011 as a footwear and fashion retailer. Through the years, Fieg built a strong team of collaborators, which includes none other than the Beaverton sportswear powerhouse Nike. The relationship between the two focuses on a line of Nike Air Force 1 colourways, each of which commemorates the opening of specific Nike Air Force 1 colourways locations around the globe.

The latest colourway in the line-up is the KITH x Nike Air Force 1 "Hawaii", featuring a rich white leather base upgraded with notable KITH branding details. The earlier "Paris" and "Tokyo" versions also borrow the same outfit with their respective colours paying homage to the capital city and country.

Korean sneaker collaborations have become more frequent these days, with things related to Korean culture contributing significantly to the hype, such as K-pop, K-drama, and K-fashion. In 2020, renowned Busan-based sneaker and streetwear boutique Kasina led by former pro skater EunHyuk Lee delivered the Kasina x Nike Dunk Low "Neptune Green" and "Industrial Blue".

Both pairs pull inspiration from Kasina's journey from Busan to Seoul, specifically the Gyeongbu Expressway and Seoul's vintage buses.

Inspired by the retailer's original Gas Mask logo, UK-born sneaker boutique Footpatrol collaborated with Japanese streewtwear brand ASICS for a co-branded Gel-Lyte 3.

The Footpatrol x ASICS Gel-Lyte III "Squad" collaboration from 2015 saw the pair with a prominent Olive branch colour palette with contrasting gold, black, and red via the counterparts. "FP" text branding and a hidden morse code on the laces that translate to "Footpatrol Gel Lyte 3" completes the pair.

UK streetwear and sneaker retailer size? and the Three Stripes have been partners for many years, delivering a selection of covetable lifestyle trainers. If size? is one of your go-to shops when searching for new shoes, you'd know that collaborations between these two often work on retro adidas models, especially the Gazelle.

In 2017, football fans were delighted to experience the launch of the size? x adidas Gazelle "London to Manchester" — a three-shoe pack inspired by football and transport motifs from both cities.

Italy-based imprint Slam Jam is known for its large selection of streetwear and sneaker goods. Its collaboration with New Balance on the 991 silhouette in 2021 couldn't be more perfectly-timed as the popularity surrounding the Boston footwear powerhouse continued to expand.

The collaborative Slam Jam x New Balance 991 features a stealthy colour blocking, with a mix of black and grey hues adorning the premium materials. A translucent Slam Jam-branded lace locks complete the design.

Amongst New Balance's Made In UK models is the New Balance 920, a retro-inspired silhouette crafted with pigskin and mesh materials and housed by an ENCAP-cushioned midsole underfoot.

Stockholm sneaker and streetwear boutique SNS (Sneakernstuff), founded by Erik Fagerlind and Peter Jansson, collaborated with the Boston brand for an orange-hued New Balance 920 in 2020. The collaborative pair arrived as part of the "SNS Sports World" capsule, which included a range of vintage sports-inspired apparel.

There are plenty more exciting sneaker collaborations to come. Don't want to miss out the latest drops? We recommend you check back here at The Sole Supplier for all the latest. Be sure to check out some of our related articles below!