BOOK REPORT - SNEAKER OF THE YEAR
THE BEST SINCE 1985
PRESENTED BY COMPLEX MEDIA
2023 JULY ISSUE
Reported by: Andrew Sia
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From the Desk of the Publisher
We tried to find books about the sneaker and we have to admit that we have not too many different titles to select. We came across to this one: Sneaker of the Year – The Best Since 1985.
The sneaker’s market is estimated to be worth around $79 billion in 2021. This business is created by the sneaker culture and the birth of a group of sneakerheads who are only using sneaker as their footwear.
The book showed us writeups and pictures of 72 sneakers that are known as icons among all the hot brands. It will be useful for those who are interested in the history and the designs.
From the business perspective, it opens our eyes as the industry is promoted by athletes and celebrities.
Available from Amazon
Hardcover at $19.29
Kindle at $16.83
Without question that the world has entered into a new era where sneaker culture has born. Through the support of the world of sports, athletes, celebrities and the like, a new clan has been born. They are known as the sneakerheads and they have very powerful voice to push the industry for going forward.
Our journal has decided to cover this fashion field and we have been searching publications for sneakers, and to be frank, there are not that many available. This “Sneaker of the Year – The Best Since 1985” gave us a glimpse of what appeared to be the best during the period. Certainly, many of those designs are able to bring back the memories of the sneakerheads.
We have listed all the sneakers that have been mentioned in the book and obviously this can give us the background of each pair of the iconic sneaker. Together with the athletes, they created a sensation that we have never experienced before from another industry. This also created the win-win situation.
You can refer to them as the following and I am sure that for those who have been wearing sneaker since the 1980s would create some resonance.
1980s (x11)
1985 Air Jordan 1 by Drew Hammell
1985 Nike Dunk By Brendan Dunne
1985 Converse Weapon by Adam Caparell
1986 Nike Shock Racer by Matt Welty
1987 Nike Air Max 1 by John Gotty
1987 Nike Air Trainer by Mike DeStefano
1988 Air Jordan III by Drew Hammell
1988 New Balance 576 by Matt Welty
1989 Air Jordan IV by Drew Hammell
1989 Reebok Pump by Mike DeStefano
1990 Nike Air Max 90 by Matt Welty
1990s (x19)
1990 Asics Gel-Lyte III by Mike DeStefano
1991 Nike Air Huarache by Drew Hammell
1991 Air Jordan VI by Ben Felderstein
1992 Vans Half Cab by Anthony Pappalardo
1992 Reebok Shaq Attaq by John Gotty
1993 Nike Air Force Max by John Gotty
1993 Nike Air Max 93 by Mike DeStefano
1994 Reebok Instapump Fury by Matt Welty
1994 Nike Diamond Turf 2 by John Gotty
1995 Nike Air Jordan XI by Drew Hammell
1995 Nike Air Max 95 by Ben Felderstein
1996 Reebok Question by John Gotty
1996 Nike Air Penny 2 by John Gotty
1997 Nike Air Foamposite One by Drew Hammell
1997 Nike Air Max 97 by Brendan Dunnes
1998 Nike Air Max Plus by Riley Jones
1998 Nike Air Zoom Flight “The Glow” by Zac Dubasik
1999 Air Jordan XIV by Drew Hammell
1999 AND1Tai Chi by Brendan Dunness
2000s (x20)
2000 Nike Air Presto by Gerald Flores
2000 Nike Shox R4 by Matt Welty
2001 Reebok Answer 4 by Brandon Richard
2001 Visvim FBT by Damien Scott
2002 Nike SB Dunk by Justin Tejada
2002 BAPE Bapesta by Mike DeStefano
2003 Nike Air Zoom Generation by Zac Dubasik
2003 Rebook S. Carter by Donnie Kwak
2004 Nike Free 5.0 by Brendan Dunness
2004 Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K4 by Riley Jones
2005 Nike Zoom LeBron 3 by John Gotty
2005 Air Jordan XX by Ben Felderstein
2006 Nike Zoom Kobe by John Gotty
2006 Air Jordan “Defining Moments Pack” by Matt Welty
2007 Supra Skytop by Lucas Wisenthal
2007 Nike Zoom Soldier by Mike DeStefano
2008 Nike Zoom Kobe by Gerald Flores
2008 Nike Hyperdunk by Brandon Richard
2009 Nike Air Yeezy 1 by Joe La Puma
2009 Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski by Lucas Wisenthal
2010s (x20)
2010 Nike LeBron 8 by Ben Felderstein
2010 Nike Zoom Kobe 6 by Riley Jones
2011 Nike Mag by Justin Tejada
2011 Nike Zoom KD IV by Brendan Dunness
2012 Nike Flyknit Racer by Riley Jones
2012 Nike Roshe Run by Brendan Dunne
2013 Balenciaga Arena by Steve Dool
2013 Nike Flyknit Lunar 1+ by Drew Hammell
2014 Nike Air Yeezy 2 “Red October” by Mike DeStefano
2014 Nike Kyrie 1 by Mike DeStefano
2015 Adidas Ultra Boost by Matt Welty
2015 Adidas Yeezy Boost 750 by Mike DeStefano
2016 Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 by Riley Jones
2016 Adidas NMD Hu by Mike DeStefano
2017 Nike Zoom Fly by John Gotty
2017 Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 “Wave Runner” by Matt Welty
2018 Nike React Element 87 by Justin Tejada
2018 Nike Air Fear of God 1 by Ben Felderstein
2019 Nike x Sacai LDV Waffle by Karizza Sanchez
2019 Air Jordan 1 High “Travis Scott” by Ben Felderstein
2020s (x2)
2020 Off-White x Air Jordan V by Brendan Dunne
2020 Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% by Brendan Dunne
The sneaker market is estimated to be worth around $79 billion globally and this was in 2021. The sneaker market is highly competitive and we have the top players in the industry including:
Nike – The largest and most influential company in the industry. They include a wide range of athletic footwear, including the iconic Air Jordan.
Adidas – The world’s number 2 player. Known for its innovative designs and collaborations with celebrities and designers. They are into all kind of sports.
Puma – It is competing with Nike and Adidas and came from the same family of Adidas.
New Balance – It is known for its running shoes and lifestyle sneakers.
Reebok – It has been a subsidiary of Adidas since 2005. It is known for their fitness-related designs and collaborated with athletes and celebrities.
Under Armour – It was known primarily known for its performance wear and the sneaker is newly added.
Vans – It is known for skateboarding and lifestyle footwear. Also known for its classic canvas sneakers and gained popularity with fashion enthusiasts.
Before signing off, we want to mention about Marc Ecko, who is a fashion designer, also the founder of Complex Media. The book was published in 2020 by Abraham Image. The reason why we has brought up the sneaker is because of the diversification that we feel the market needs.