Five of the Best New Sneakers Celebrating Year of the Rabbit 2023
Happy Lunar New Year! 2023 is the year of the rabbit, so sneaker brands have delivered tidy throwbacks, decadent remakes and downright adorable interpretations of the bunny in sneaker form. Here are some of the best that have just dropped, with more to come. By the way, it’s actually considered bad luck to gift someone new shoes for LNY, so maybe hold onto these pairs for a little later.
Nike Dunk Low ‘Year of the Rabbit’
This Nike Dunk actually references the coveted Air Force 1 from 2011, as indicated by its outsole graphic. The upper more or less replicates the white, blue and red colourway of its predecessor, which was inspired by the popular White Rabbit candy. Pairs were snapped up instantly following a short but sweet teaser.
Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Year of the Rabbit’
Releasing in a separate pack to the above Dunks, these AJ1 Lows take a more literal approach to representing rabbits. The fuzzy brown suede upper is on trend, the fluffy laces are a fun touch, and the individually numbered edition of 5000 adds some collectible cachet. Stand by, as these should be releasing soon.
New Balance 2002R ‘Lunar New Year’
NB have been on the Lunar New Year-themed sneaker tip for a few years now, and the calibre of their releases only gets higher thanks to models like the 2002R. Clean grey colourway aside, the panelling of the upper also resembles the very successful ‘Protection Pack’ (aka ‘Refined Future’) pairs.
Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 ‘Lunar New Year Series’
The OT Mexico 66 renaissance is afoot, and sneakerheads can leap ahead of the curve with this appropriately springy LNY edition. Its execution is simple and easy to wear, but the furry Tiger Stripe edging is a quirky detail that stands out from GR 66s.
Vans Slip-On ‘Year of the Rabbit’
Vans didn’t rely on material gimmicks or OTT interpretations of the rabbit for their LNY release. These Vault-tier Slip-Ons rework the brand’s iconic checkerboard pattern with enlarged squares and an overlaid graphic of black and white rabbits intertwined in a circle, representing Yin and Yang. This pack is exclusive to Billy’s in Japan.
