There's no stopping this collaboration train anytime soon it seems. We're rounding off September 2020 with another streak of hot collaborations that are all making a return with new silhouettes and designs.
On Cop the Drop this week, we're featuring three of the best collaborative sneakers for the week. First up is a second outing between ASICS and Vivienne Westwood, while Off-White kicks things up a notch with a region-exclusive colourway. And lastly, the AJ4 gets the magic touch of Union LA in their second partnership.
As always, we'll be breaking down our recommendations of whether each sneaker is a worthy investment (or not). It's not all fun and games, after all.
Ready? Let's get into it then.
Commodity: ASICS x Vivienne Westwood GEL-KAYANO 26 'Black'
Vivienne Westwood is back with a second collaboration with ASICS. First seen on the runway of the Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood autumn/winter 2020 collection, the ASICS x Vivienne Westwood GEL-KAYANO 26 is a nod to a Vivienne Westwood creation back in the '80s. While the first collaboration was pretty extensive, only the GEL-KAYANO 26 was chosen this time around to act as the base. For the collaborative pair, the lacing system has been completely simplified with an elastic webbing structure encased within a mesh upper.
Where: Asics
When: 28 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD399
Price of the ASICS x Vivienne Westwood GEL-KAYANO 26 'Black' on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD361 with a low of SGD308. The average sale price is SGD335.
Recommendation: Go long.
We say go long but don't be too optimistic about it. Judging by the resale prices of its previous collaborations (they're still raking in some profits on StockX), there could be potential in this latest iteration as well. But seeing how there's only been three sales at the time of publication so far, be cautious and keep an eye out on the demand for a pair.
Commodity: Nike x Off-White Rubber Dunk Low 'University Gold'
Virgil Abloh works on the concept of creating 'new’ designs from existing ones by tweaking them by there percent. His latest collaboration with Nike however, seems to be his most original silhouette thus far. It's an amalgamation of two styles—the Dunk and the retro versions of the Pegasus (before it got all streamlined for better performance)—with this 'University Gold' colourway available only for the region. And in comparison with the other two colourways, this particular iteration stands out for its tonal combination which pairs rather seamless with that iconic Off-White tag.
Where: Dover Street Market Singapore
When: 1 October 2020
How: Raffle
Retail: SGD269
Price of the Nike x Off-White Rubber Dunk Low 'University Gold' on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD1,234 with a low of SGD409. The average sale price is SGD686.
Recommendation: Short it.
This is one pair of sneakers that you should definitely consider flipping almost immediately (should you be able to get your hand on a pair). The demand is pretty high for this and with this being a region exclusive, you may be looking at buyers willing to go high for one.
Commodity: Air Jordan 4 x Union LA 'Off Noir'
Another sophomore effort to drop this week comes from a collaboration between Jordan Brand and Union LA. The latter continues its reworking of Jordan classics with owner Chris Gibbs' second favourite silhouette: the Air Jordan 4. Right off the bat, you'd notice that the tongue is significantly shorter as compared to the regular AJ4's—Gibbs would fold over his own AJ4s and tie them down because he liked wearing them that way. The tongues on this sneaker are folded and stitched down for that same effect, but easily removed should one want that classic AJ4 silhouette.
Where: Nike
When: 30 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD349
Price of the Air Jordan 4 x Union LA 'Off Noir' on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD1,324 with a low of SGD682. The average sale price is SGD1,037.
Recommendation: Short it.
Three words: flip it now.
Previous drops…
As the fashion world continues with its slate of spring/summer 2021 showings, the sneaker world continues to pump out release after release; pandemic or not. It's another week of collaborations but this time, they're not entirely dedicated to a coming together of fashion and sneaker brands.
On Cop the Drop this week, we take a look at three bright, bold and colourful collaborations. First up is a continuation of a streetwear collaboration that's been steadily releasing well-designed hits this year. The second is a limited-edition pair that's only available at Dover Street Market stores worldwide. And lastly, a pair that stays true to a childhood favourite.
As always, we'll be breaking down our recommendations of whether each sneaker is a worthy investment (or not). It's not all fun and games, after all.
Ready? Let's get into it then.
Commodity: adidas Tokio Solar Human Made 'Green'
Human Made continues on its collaboration with adidas Originals creating a whole new sneaker that takes its design cues from the latter's Tokio iteration for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The adidas Tokio Solar Human Made stays true to the original design with upgrades on its soles and material compositions. The sneaker takes on a Primeknit foundation with suede detailing, as well as white leather accents for the Three Stripes and a criss-cross detail running across the mid-heel. And finally, the Human Made-adidas hybrid logo is debossed on the heel tap.
Where: adidas
When: 25 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD280
Price of the adidas Tokio Solar Human Made 'Green' on the resale market in the last 7 days: At the time of publication, no sale has been made on the resale market. The asking price however, is SGD413.
Recommendation: Short it.
While there are no records of any sales yet on StockX, we're basing this recommendation on previous reception of adidas x Human Made drops this year. There's really no investment longevity on the collaboration thus far so it's best to strike fast if you're planning to cop one only to flip it. As a sneaker, it's actually one of the better designs from this year's adidas x Human Made collaboration and we'd get one as good colourful sneaker option.
Commodity: CDG Shirt x ASICS GEL-LYTE III
It's funny how camouflage prints in fashion do anything but hide a wearer from plain sight. And these collaboration piece between CDG Shirt and ASICS are the best example of that. The multicoloured camouflage print acts as the base of the sneaker while grey suede panels wrap around it. The iconic ASICS stripes come in a stark white, while the outsole continues the camouflage motif. What's most interesting though—and quite a subtle detail—is the dual-asymmetric tongues (the typical GEL-LYTE III has a tongue that splits right in the middle) that wrap round the wearer's foot.
Where: Dover Street Market Singapore
When: 24 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD410
Price of the CDG Shirt x ASICS GEL-LYTE III on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD352 with a low of SGD299. The average sale price is SGD426.
Recommendation: Don't go too long on this.
The sneaker has only launched at the time of publication and judging by how it's been holding up on the resale market, it's quite safe to say that demand for this will continue to hover around the same level for at least a few weeks. A quick check on the Dover Street Market London e-commerce platform showed that the sneaker is almost completely sold out online. Grab a pair in the physical Dover Street Market Singapore store, and flip it for some decent returns.
Commodity: adidas ZX 8000 Lego
If you've ever wondered how a pair of Lego sneakers would look like (one that's complete with Lego-like details), the adidas ZX 8000 Lego is the most on-brand iteration that we've seen so far. Set against an off-white base, the hallmark Lego colours are all represented in the pair—red Lego eyestay and sole, blue heel and toe box, yellow outsole, and green outsole accents. Each pair of sneakers come with a set of laces as well as interchangeable deubrés to match (or not) whatever coloured lace you choose for the day.
Where: Limited Edt
When: 25 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD220
Price of the adidas ZX 8000 Lego on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD622 with a low of SGD206. The average sale price is SGD348.
Recommendation: Short it. Maybe.
We're playing it safe with this one. While it may be one of the truest depiction of how a Lego sneaker should be, we're erring on the side of caution because it also may be a tad gimmicky. But having said that, if you're convinced that this could turn out to be an iconic pair down the line, by all means, keep this in pristine condition; don't let this get on any pesky Lego pieces.
Previous drops…
Collaborations may be a dime a dozen these days but when they're so good, we can't help but celebrate them. This week, a whole slew of collaborations with streetwear fashion brands awaits. And that can only mean one thing: it's fastest fingers first. Miss out by a few seconds and you'll probably have to settle for sky-high resale prices.
On Cop the Drop this week, we take a look at three of the week's best collaborations. First up, a Hiroshi Fujiwara-designed Jordan classic; followed by a new colourway of a sneaker by Reebok Studies' artistic director, and lastly, an all-terrain Converse design by A-COLD-WALL*.
As always, we'll be breaking down our recommendations of whether each sneaker is a worthy investment (or not). It's not all fun and games, after all.
Ready? Let's get into it then.
Commodity: Nike Air Jordan 3 x Fragment 'White'
Right on the heels of his collaboration with Converse for 7 Moncler Fragment, Hiroshi Fujiwara is back with a similar treatment on a pair of Air Jordan 3s. If you missed out on the previous outing in 2014—the AJ1s were tagged with Fragment's lightning insignia—this is one colour combination not to be missed. The AJ3 x Fragment pair is simple in the sense that it's a super clean colourway with a tone-on-tone embroidered Jordan logo on the tongue as well as the design's complete SKU printed right on the midsole. The treatment on the heel is quite a stunner: the Fragment logo appears underneath a translucent Jordan logo for a subtle fused effect. Brilliant.
Where: Nike
When: 17 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD279
Price of the Nike Air Jordan 3 x Fragment 'White' on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD3,532 with a low of SGD694. The average sale price is SGD1,511.
Recommendation: Go very long.
Taking into account the resale value of 2014's collaboration (it most recently hit a spike this year), we'd recommend to hold on to this as long as you can. While it is tempting to flip it immediately, seeing how the highest the AJ3 x Fragment pair has went for in the last week is slightly above SGD3,5000, those are extreme exceptions. Exercise some patience and it could fetch a higher resale price well beyond the launch date.
Commodity: Reebok x Pyer Moss Experiment 4 Trail Fury 'Buff Blue'
Latest in the collaboration between American brand Pyer Moss and Reebok is an all-new colourway for the Experiment 4 Trail Fury, which was first introduced late last year. The futuristic piece with its chunky outsole and protective tongue panel, has been given a fresher treatment as compared to its previous iterations. On a white base with brighter mustard and blue accents, the 'Buff Blue' colourway highlights the design's defining details to full effect.
Where: Limited Edt
When: 16 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD349
Price of the Reebok x Pyer Moss Experiment 4 Trail Fury 'Buff Blue' on the resale market in the last 7 days: At the time of publication, there have been no sales made in the last seven days. The highest that it's gone for so far this year is SGD374.
Recommendation: Don't bet on this yet.
We're chalking up the lack in demand to the fact that this is one of many colour combinations that have come up since its launch in 2019. While the design is quite a standout, it may take some time for it to gain traction.
Commodity: Converse x A-COLD-WALL* Chuck Taylor All Star Lugged
Converse has been ramping up on its collaborations lately and so far, they've been rather stellar. A-COLD-WALL*'s limited-edition collaboration pair elevates the All Star Lugged silhouette to be even sturdier than the original design. Crafted with premium materials and with an emphasis on the sneaker functioning as a fully fleshed out hard-wearing pair, it's done in an all-grey colour that's decidedly urban. You'd easily hike in one without worrying about the weather but also have the aesthetic of it being an incredibly well-designed and stylish pair.
Where: Limited Edt and Dover Street Market Singapore
When: 17 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD199.90
Price of the Converse x A-COLD-WALL* Chuck Taylor All Star Lugged on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD423 with a low of SGD299. The average sale price is SGD357.
Recommendation: Go long.
We're inclined to recommend anyone to get this and actually wear it because it's such a good pair to have as part of one's style arsenal. Letting it go now is not too bad of a move too, but we reckon demand will pick up even more as time goes by, since initial drops on certain stockists have been incredibly well received.
Previous drops…
Let's face it: luxury fashion brands will not stop producing sneakers. Whether they're limited-edition collaborations with legit sneaker brands or designed and crafted in-house with the same level of quality as the rest of their luxury offerings, sneakers have become part of a luxury fashion brand's style vocabulary.
On Cop the Drop this week, we take a look at three different luxury fashion brands and their interpretations of the quintessential footwear. First up is the return of a simple collaboration, followed by a new proposition by a legendary footwear brand. And lastly, a skate shoe partnership that's quite genially executed.
As always, we'll be breaking down our recommendations of whether each sneaker is a worthy investment (or not). It's not all fun and games, after all.
Ready? Let's get into it then.
Commodity: adidas Prada Superstar 'Core Black'
Prada's collaboration with adidas is back. The sophomore effort is packed with three colourways this time around—white with black stripes, a chrome version, and one in all-black The latter stands out the most for being the direct opposite of the original release, with the Prada branding brilliantly highlighted in white at the heel. There's no doubt that it's a simple design—it's quite literally Prada slapped on a pair of adidas Superstars. But the 'Made in Italy' tag does suggest superior Italian craftsmanship and quality that one would get with any Prada piece.
Where: Prada
When: 8 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD700
Price of the adidas Prada Superstar 'Core Black' on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD1,243 with a low of SGD778. The average sale price is SGD902.
Recommendation: Go long.
We're basing this recommendation on how the demand for the original adidas Prada Superstar has been fluctuating of late. While the resale price naturally experienced a drop, it has since picked up and it's not even a year since the release. Resale prices for the adidas Prada Superstar 'Core Black' have been decreasing since its official release, but hold on to this and you may be able to sell it off for a decent profit.
There's an inkling that with Raf Simons onboard at Prada—the designer has had a longstanding collaboration with adidas—more Prada and adidas sneakers could be in the works. And if that does come to fruition, holding on to a pre-Raf piece could be a wise investment.
Commodity: Christian Louboutin Loubishark
We're all familiar with Christian Louboutin and his iconic red-soled shoes. The luxury brand is also no stranger to sneakers what with its spiked-up iterations now a core signature of the brand. The Loubishark is Christian Louboutin's latest output into the sneaker game and it's the brand's sportiest yet. Crafted together from 13 different components and available in three colourways, the main highlight is definitely the chunky, jagged sole that's reminiscent of a shark's teeth (hence the name). And of course, topped off with a Louboutin red outsole marked with the brand's logo.
Where: Christian Louboutin
When: 8 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD1,490
Price of the Christian Louboutin Loubishark on the resale market in the last 7 days: At the time of publication, there's no sign of the Loubishark on the resale market.
Recommendation: Not for resale. Yet.
Even though Christian Louboutin is pre-releasing the sneaker to a select list of clientele—200 numbered pairs of each colourway—it probably won't be the kind of sneaker one would find on StockX. For the price, the Loubishark sits right at home with the likes of Ermenegildo Zegna XXX and Gucci—luxury and sporty, but not exactly super exclusive.
Commodity: DC X Doublet Hybrid 'Orange/Black'
Doublet's Masayuki Ino puts his spin on how a pair of skate shoes should look like by teaming up with DC Shoes. And in true Doublet style, the designer deconstructed three classic DC styles—the Lynx OG, Kalis OG and Legacy OG—and reconstructed them together to create a whole new design. The DC x Doublet Hybrid combines the best elements of each sneaker into one while still retaining that instantly recognisable DC silhouette. Brilliant.
Where: Dover Street Market Singapore
When: 11 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD630
Price of the DC X Doublet Hybrid 'Orange/Black' on the resale market in the last 7 days: At the time of publication, there's no sign of the DC x Doublet Hybrid on the resale market.
Recommendation: Go long.
DC Shoes is pretty niche but within the skateboarding community, there's been a lot of fanfare for the DC x Doublet Hybrid. The price tag however, is more than what skate shoes normally go for, especially when they're usually worn out in a month. We say, get one and keep it in mint condition for archiving before selling them. Doublet's a brand that has a strong following and with such a stellar collaboration, releasing this for resale down the line might be a smart move.
Previous drops…
It's a good week for collaborations. As a new season rolls by, we're seeing a bit more drops by fashion brands and their creative partnerships with sneaker brands. It's never a sure thing, but most of the time, we end up with some great designs that combine fashion and streetwear sensibilities without straying too far from one or the other.
On Cop the Drop this week, we take a look at three of the best collaborations slated for release this week. First up is the first Converse sneaker by 7 Moncler Fragment, followed by Puma and Rhude's reportedly last collaboration. And then, the return of IRAK and adidas.
As always, we'll be breaking down our recommendations of whether each sneaker is a worthy investment (or not). It's not all fun and games, after all.
Ready? Let's get into it then.
Commodity: 7 Moncler Fragment + Converse Chuck 70 'Black'
This season marks the fourth collaboration between Moncler and streetwear legend as well as the man behind Fragment, Hiroshi Fujiwara. It's quite a surprise then that this is the first time that 7 Moncler Fragment and Converse have come together on a pair of footwear for the former's collection. Taking on the Chuck 70 silhouette—a fave go-to among collaborators—Fujiwara kept things minimal and simple. The sneaker is highlighted with contrast-stitching, style numbers along the foxing tape, and finished with Moncler and Fragment insignias at the heel.
Where: Moncler and Converse
When: 1 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD169.90
Price of the 7 Moncler Fragment + Converse Chuck 70 'Black' on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD458 with a low of SGD239. The average sale price is SGD323.
Recommendation: Short it.
This is arguably the most coveted 7 Moncler Fragment piece since the beginning of the Moncler Genius project. Not only because Fujiwara has had a hand in it (instant streetwear cred), but also because it's not priced at Moncler's luxury pricing. Get it and flip it if you're not intending on keeping it for yourself.
Commodity: Puma X Rhude CELL King
Puma continues its collaboration with Los Angeles-based streetwear brand Rhude with a sneaker silhouette that's harkens to the beginnings of the Puma brand. The CELL King takes on the shape of a football boot and married with the brand's CELL Dome construction—a more cushioned heel with a pronounced dome-shaped construction that stands out visually. The quilted leather adds a touch of luxurious sophistication that elevates the overall design.
Where: Puma
When: 5 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: TBD
Price of the Puma X Rhude CELL King on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD218 with a low of SGD205. The average sale price is SGD214.
Recommendation: Get this only if you want to actually wear it.
First and foremost, we'd have to say that this is one of the better sneaker outings between Rhude and Puma. And we do appreciate that it's quite reminiscent of Puma's collaborations with Jil Sander back in the day. But having said that, perhaps it's the almost identical treatment (save for the chunkier sole) that throws us off quite a bit. On the resale market, we'd rather score the Jil Sander one than Rhude's. But as a piece to actually wear, the CELL King is pretty stellar; just not for resale.
Commodity: IRAK x adidas ZX 8000 GTX 'Black'
If you're unfamiliar with IRAK, the New York-based collective consists of a crew of graffiti artists helmed by Kunle 'EARSNOT' Martins. IRAK first began collaborating with adidas back in 2007 with the EQT Support Runner. Its latest sneaker collaboration is adopting that same colour scheme on the ZX 8000 and detailed with refreshed stylings to signify the year of collaboration. Add to that the GORE-TEX equipped capabilities, this is one pair of sneakers that's all form and function.
Where: Limited Edt
When: 4 September 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD280
Price of the IRAK x adidas ZX 8000 GTX 'Black' on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD580 with a low of SGD341. The average sale price is SGD428.
Recommendation: Go long.
At the time of publication, only three pairs have been sold so far but at pretty promising prices. It's still too early to say if the prices will float around that range as the sneaker officially drops, but we reckon that with nostalgia and how successful the original collaboration sneaker were, IRAK's ZX 8000 could fetch some decent profits.
More drops:
Cop the drop: May 2019
Cop the drop: June 2019
Cop the drop: July – August 2019
Cop the drop: September 2019
Cop the drop: October – November 2019
Cop the drop: February – April 2020
Cop the drop: May 2020
Cop the drop: June 2020
Cop the drop: July 2020
Cop the drop: August 2020
