The Sole Womens' Top 10 Sneakers Of 2020

It’s safe to say that 2020 has not been the one. However, throughout all the heartache there has always been one thing to keep a smile on our faces. Sneakers.

Despite 2020 being an extremely difficult year, there’s no denying that there’s been some absolutely fire releases. We've reflected on this historical year and collated our top ten kicks of 2020 - all of which made it just that little bit more bearable.

The Jordan 1 has always been one of the most-hyped sneaker silhouettes, however this year the J blew up more than ever. Back in the summer, Netflix released Michael Jordan’s documentary series “The Last Dance”, causing Jordans to fly off the shelves quicker than ever. The Mid has also proven especially popular, considering its taller counterpart is usually the fan favourite.

For us at The Sole Supplier, we believe 2020 has been an important year for the sneaker industry. We’ve seen baby-steps taken to the world of kicks being more inclusive, although still resoundingly agree that there is a lot of work that remains to be done. And despite there being some stellar womens-exclusive releases this year, many of us have also missed out on some of the most high-heat drops due to limited sizing ranges.

Nevertheless, let’s get down to business. I present to you, The Sole Supplier’ Top 10 Sneakers Of 2020!

All the New Balance 327 iterations alone have done bits this year, providing sneakerheads with a sleeker design from the Boston-based brand. However, we especially love this collaboration between Casablanca founder, Charaf Tajer, and NB, which was first spotted at Paris Fashion Week and pays homage to Tajer’s Moroccan heritage. The iconic grippy outsole; leather and suede upper; and pops of colour means this sneaker was not to be missed. A quality kick that’s both smart and sporty.

A womens-exclusive release that we believe belongs on our list. The Dunk all round has had an astounding impact this year, but this “Varsity Purple” iteration takes the biscuit. There’s nothing we love more at The Sole Supplier than a sneaker that harks back to the 1990s... especially when it’s got added shimmer. The translucent outsole is pretty cool, too.

It’d be wrong of us to leave out the Nike Air Force 1 Shadow. Although looking to be quickly overtaken by the more recent AF1 Pixel, the Shadow remains forever in our hearts as the best Force silhouette a girl can get. Premium, tumbled leather paired with the perfect, pastel colour palette is a definite winner, and a lot of you thought the same! This Shadow sold out extremely quickly and its popularity has not dwindled since.

This is number seven on the list purely because we waited so long for it! First seen way back at the start of 2020 during Paris Fashion Week, this sneaker turned heads right from the off. And when it finally arrived, we certainly were NOT disappointed. Doubled-up everything in four different colourways made us very happy bunnies here at The Sole Supplier, but it must be mentioned that the black and white iteration takes the top spot for us.

Now, as you know, we are suckers for a pair of Air Force 1s! However, the Air Zoom Spiridon stole the top spot of all the Stussy x Nike collaborations that landed this year.

A modern sneaker with a technical build, this was not one to sleep on when it released back in April. The caged Air unit and beige and black colour scheme is honestly to die for. We always know that a Nike collaboration with the Californian streetwear brand is going to be a hit, but this was just something else.

A bit of a late arrival to the scene, the Jordan 1 Mocha only dropped mid-December, but my goodness it made an impact. One of the most sought-after Js of the year, it would have been criminal to exclude it from the list. Giving us serious Travis Scott vibes, it's no wonder this Jordan was so popular. This caffeine hit certainly woke us up!

If we could customise our own Jordan, it would probably look like the Milan. We had to put a Mid on the list due to their success throughout 2020. Comprised of leather, suede and synthetics, this is a premium sneaker that looks at home in any rotation. The branding is subtle and the palette is delicate and neutral, but that is exactly what makes this J so great.

Coming in at number three, we have the iconic Nike Dunk collaboration with Ben & Jerry. One of the best collaborations of not only 2020, but of all time, what could be better than ice cream paired with sneakers? Vibrant colours, cow print and a Swoosh that looks like it’s been out of the freezer for too long, this Dunk made our May. Despite the fun colours and the funky patterns, this sneaker did not compromise on quality, making it much deserving of its place on this list.

Got a spare £1800 to splash? Why not treat yourself to the Dior Jordan? If there is one sneaker we have been manifesting this year, it’s this one. Many other Jordan iterations have been reminiscent of the Dior collaboration colourway, however nothing else ever quite fits the bill. There is nothing better than merging high-fashion and sporty sneakers for us, and with its premium textiles; luxe-leather upper; and ice-blue, translucent outsole, it was bound to be near the top of our list.

I don’t think this will come as a surprise to many. Taking the top spot for our best sneaker of 2020 is the Off-White x Nike Jordan 4 “Sail”. I think it’s safe to say that Virgil Abloh outdid himself with this one. Beautifully crafted, this Jordan 4 knocked it out of the park and surpassed all previous collaborations. For us, less is most definitely more and the creamy, beige colour palette elevated this J4 to heights which we thought were unreachable. Incredible design, a sleek colour palette, and just all-round Jordan goodness. Need we say more? It will be interesting to see if anything else comes close in the future.