Fashion’s Best Footwear Moments of 2022
The lines between the sneakersphere and the wider high-fashion zeitgeist have become blurred, meaning luxury houses and designers are putting plenty of focus on their sneaker offerings. This year was a big one, with countless designer linkups and expertly crafted in-house models.
Keep scrollin’ for a look back at the year that was – through the eyes of the ‘fashion sneaker’.
Wales Bonner x adidas
Grace Wales Bonner and her eponymous label have fast-tracked their relationship with adidas and created some epic runway moments in the process. In June, the Wales Bonner SS23 show hit the catwalk in Italy. Each model donned something from the new collaborative collection with Team Trefoil, including some Sambas with crochet detailing and extended tongues – a signature for the duo.
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton shook the sneakersphere to its core in 2022, especially with their multi-shoe Nike collaboration focused on the Air Force 1. It started when Sotheby’s announced an auction featuring 200 pairs of a singular colourway sold exclusively via their site. The funds from the auction went towards the Virgil Abloh ‘Post-Modern’ Scholarship Fund. In July, LV announced a second part to the megalithic colab, dropping a plethora of Air Force 1 colourways, with the Lows running $2750 and the Mids costing $3450.
Another highlight from Louis Vuitton came during their SS23 show when they presented their first complete collection designed after Abloh’s passing. The marching band playing alongside Kendrick Lamar was a standout moment, and with each band member wearing matching white-on-white 408 Trainers, it was a sight to behold. A plethora of inventive new silhouettes were displayed throughout the remainder of the show, including a gargantuan rubber clog.
ASICS x Cecilie Bahnsen
One of the most interesting, sneaker-geared runway moments of 2022 came from Copenhagen-based designer Cecilie Bahnsen, who debuted a collaboration with ASICS. Bahnsen took her venture in a unique direction, utilising existing colourways found on the GEL-Nimbus 9 and GEL-1130 and adding floral details via upcycled fabric!
Dior
Tailoring met trekking for Dior Men’s Summer 2023 collection, which meant their offerings were injected with plenty of GORP goodness! The highlight of the collection was a ream of hiking-inspired luxury sneakers dressed in patterned uppers. Clogs were also crafted with a similar pattern and wild lacing system.
Casablanca
Paris fashion house Casablanca have spent a number of years as sneakersphere collaborators, forging a tight bond with brands like New Balance. In 2022, they debuted their first in-house sneaker dubbed Atlantis. This seminal release draws from the famed lost city of the same name, looking to waves as a basis for the wild midsole. Congrats, Casablanca, for crafting one of the top in-house sneakers of 2022!
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