If the fashion world is about to go full-on in some uncharted territories this week for the spring/summer 2021 show season, it's relatively quiet in the sneaker world. And especially when compared to the past few weeks of pretty major drops and surprises. But it could be because the much-awaited Air Jordan 1 OG Dior sneakers are dropping this week, and no one wants to compete with that.
On Cop the Drop this week, we're diving in with two Nike releases. The first is based on the concept of 'improvise, scavenge, protect, and adapt'. The second pair is a recurring icon in a new colourway that may excite fans.
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 ISPA OverReact Flyknit 'Light Bone'
When Nike came up with the ISPA design philosophy back in 2018, it was a way to better connect athletes with the environment around them. ISPA is an acronym—improvise, scavenge, protect, adapt—that guides the design of the projects under its tag. Now, this latest sneaker version gets an environmentally conscious upgrade that's in line with Nike's sustainability efforts.
Much like the recently released Space Hippie collection, the ISPA OverReact Flyknit is constructed using excess yarn; a perfect representation of the 'scavenge' portion of the formula. It does seem like the sneaker also took references from the Space Hippie's futuristic silhouette and aesthetics, anchored by the React Foam sole unit. We're not mad at that though; it's sleeker than the Space Hippie (laceless with a hook-and-loop fastening system) and is designed to be performance-driven.
Where: Nike
When: 9 July 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD259
Price of the Nike ISPA OverReact Flyknit 'Light Bone' on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD523 with a low of SGD384. The average sale price is SGD442.
Recommendation: Short it.
Mainly because it resembles the Space Hippie too much. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, the latter was only recently released and was almost instantly sold out. In comparison, the ISPA OverReact Flyknit is the less fancy iteration without the extra hype of being one of the most sustainable sneakers Nike has ever produced. Also, we're expecting a new colourway for the Space Hippie to be released sometime next week. So there's no point in holding on to the ISPA OverReact Flyknit for long. Get it and then flip it almost immediately while it's hot.
Commodity: Air Jordan 1 'Smoke Grey'
Missed out on the much-awaited Air Jordan 1 OG Dior sneakers that's dropping today? This particular colourway of the Air Jordan 1 bears somewhat of a resemblance to the aforementioned sneaker, but of course, minus the Dior-level quality. So if you're looking for something similar and without the price of a luxury fashion bag, this one's for you. Additionally, it's fixed with suede overlays instead of the more common all-leather variations too.
Where: Nike
When: 11 July 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD239
Price of the Air Jordan 1 'Smoke Grey' on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD638 with a low of SGD370. The average sale price is SGD431.
Recommendation: Go long. But if you're in for a quick buck, short it to ride on the Air Jordan 1 OG Dior wave.
It doesn't have to be said—Air Jordan 1s are always great investments to hang on to. But since the limited-edition piece with Dior is completely sold out now (even before it's officially been released), we're predicting that grey Air Jordan 1s could potentially be a hot commodity for at least a while. So it may be wise to ride on the emotional sentiment of not getting the Dior collaborative effort and get this up for sale on the resale market. Revenge shopping, if you must.
Previous drops…
Things are picking up in the fashion industry as a whole. New launches are finally coming in and that just means that collaborations are aplenty this period (have you heard about the Louis Vuitton's partnership with Nigo, and the much raved about Air Dior capsule collection?). Add to that a couple of surprise drops, and we're looking at quite an interesting week of fresh pickings.
On Cop the Drop this week, we're looking at three sneakers that speak to new design languages across the board. The first is an entirely new lifestyle concept by adidas that harkens back to the '90s. The second is a surprise drop that we weren't expecting but was sold out within hours. And lastly, a collaboration that's on the heels of a successful tie-in.
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 Niteball 'Collegiate Navy'
Summer in 2020 might not look like what we're used to, but adidas' latest lifestyle sneaker silhouette is making sure that we'll at least look summer-ready. As opposed to being inspired by running, the new Niteball design takes reference from basketball—chunky and with the stable build that's core to '90s-era basketball sneakers. The Niteball is by no means sleek and minimalistic. Set against a cream base, the sneaker is accented with textured pops of colours and prominently feature the Three Stripes in the form of large rubberised strips that's quite possibly the most graphic interpretation of the motif yet.
Where: adidas
When: 1 July 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: SGD167
Price of the adidas Niteball 'Collegiate Navy' on the resale market in the last 7 days: At the time of publication, no sale has been made yet.
Recommendation: Hold on to it for a while.
It's tricky with new sneaker designs—you either love them for being different or hate them because they're not outstanding enough. We're leaning somewhere in the middle with the Niteball. The retro-esque design and colours are probably one of the best we've seen on an adidas sneaker in a while. But to say that it's markedly unique and different as compared to other lifestyle sneakers in the market is quite a stretch. It's an interesting design but we don't see people clamouring for this on the resale market. Get this because it'll enhance your style, but don't count on it to be a worthy investment piece.
Commodity: adidas YEEZY Foam Runner 'Ararat'
It was a 'WESTDAYEVER' indeed over the weekend. Kanye West dropped a few surprises spanning fashion, music and film, including the first iteration of the much talked about YEEZY Foam Runner. Widely dubbed as the 'YEEZY Crocs' by the Internet, the sneaker is a made-in-the-US creation that is almost seamless from upper to sole. The entirety of the Foam Runner is made of a blend of harvested algae and EVA, and is designed for easy slipping in and off. But the best part of this pair of YEEZYs is the price. At about SGD104 per pair, this is West's most affordable style yet.
YEEZY FOAM RUNNER MADE IN USA NOW AVAILABLEhttps://t.co/xutW8Q85QQ#WESTDAYEVER pic.twitter.com/zP8FSKaW9c
— ye (@kanyewest) June 26, 2020
Where: YEEZY SUPPLY
When: 27 June 2020
How: Resale market
Retail: SGD104
Price of the adidas YEEZY Foam Runner 'Ararat' on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD795 with a low of SGD209. The average sale price is SGD515.
Recommendation: Go long.
You have to admit that Kanye West—whether you think he's a genius or not—has a reputation of being a trendsetter when it comes to his sneakers. The YEEZY Boost is still somewhat going strong, and that particular design was initially met with negative criticisms before gaining a cult following. The YEEZY Foam Runner was sold out within a few hours, and if that's anything to go by, it's definitely a piece to keep for the long haul. The 'Ararat' colourway is only the beginning, so try getting in on the next drop and you may very well be able to sell it off for at least five times the original retail price.
Commodity: KANGHYUK x Reebok Premier Road Modern 'Jet-Black'
Korean label KANGHYUK is no stranger to collaborations with Reebok. It's previous collaboration late last year saw the brand interpreting the Sole Fury for Dover Street Market's 15th anniversary, turning it into a sneaker that's befitting of its name. This time around, KANGHYUK takes on Reebok's Premier Road model, giving it a tonal all-black design that's inspired by tires. The upper is constructed of technical mesh with dynamic lines that are set against a robust DMX Ride foam-assisted sole.
Where: Dover Street Market London
When: 3 July 2020
How: Add to cart
Retail: To be determined
Price of the KANGHYUK x Reebok Premier Road Modern 'Jet-Black' on the resale market in the last 7 days: At the time of publication, no sale has been made yet.
Recommendation: Go long.
Judging on the success of the previous collaboration with Reebok alone, the KANGHYUK x Reebok Premier Road Modern 'Jet-Black' could very well follow the same trend. The sneaker is a Dover Street Market London exclusive for now so it's bound to be a coveted piece based on the limited availability of the release. Design-wise, it's no slouch too. It's not as exciting as the Sole Fury but one that would still elevate a look.
Previous drops…
We're a step closer now to the release of the much-awaited Air Dior capsule collection that was first teased back in December. Remember those grey-and-white sneakers that Travis Scott wore to the Dior Men fall 2020 show in Miami? Those special Oblique-covered Swoosh pieces are set to drop 8 July and will be accompanied by an Air Dior capsule collection comprising of a selection of ready-to-wear pieces, leather goods and accessories.
On Cop the Drop this week, we'll be dissecting both iterations of the Air Jordan 1 OG Dior—the high-top and the low-top too. These are definitely the biggest drops of the entire year, coming from two giants in their respective industries. And you can be sure that the demand has already outstripped the limited number of pieces produced.
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.
This is going to be a good one, folks.
Commodity: Air Jordan 1 OG Dior High and Low limited-edition sneakers
First and foremost, we have to point out that the Air Jordan 1 OG Dior sneakers are entirely made in Italy. This means that they've been given the same attention to detail and precision that Dior—a french couture house—is undoubtedly highly regarded for. There are all the signature design elements that make the Air Jordan 1 the emblematic icon of Jordan Brand, but mashed together with luxurious Dior details.
The grey leather panels are not just any grey; they're Dior Grey. The Wings logo is updated with 'Air Dior', while the fabric logo—fixed on a Dior Oblique tongue—features both Dior and Jordan Brand. Then, there are the translucent outsoles that showcase both brands, one on each side. The highlight of the entire sneaker (and what everyone will instantly be able to recognise) is the reworked Swoosh. Made up entirely of the Dior Oblique, it's been perfected by hand. And to top it all off, every piece has been edge-painted by hand too; these are truly the most luxurious sneakers ever created.
Where: Air Dior microsite
When: 8 July 2020
How: Registration has closed as of 26 June 2020 (less than 24 hours after it opened)
Retail: SGD3,500 (High) and SGD3,100 (Low)
Price of the Air Jordan 1 OG Dior High on the resale market in the last 7 days: Peaking at SGD17,586 with a low of SGD5,563. The average sale price is SGD13,498.
Price of the Air Jordan 1 OG Dior Low on the resale market in the last 7 days: There has yet to be any sale made on StockX at the time of publication. The lowest ask however, is SGD27,814.
Recommendation: Go long if you're intending to wear it but short it if you're lucky enough and want to make a profit.
As with collaborations between luxury fashion houses and streetwear or sneaker brands go—think back to Louis Vuitton and Supreme or even Dior and KAWS—they're hardly ever repeated and tend to be one-offs. Registration for the sneakers opened up on 25 June 2020 at 7pm Singapore time and we're quite certain that it didn't take long before it closed. Each registrant was given a choice between the high-top or the low-top only. The guaranteed opportunity to secure these sneakers will then be given on a first come, first served basis to the lucky individuals who register before the inventory is exhausted.
It has been reported that Dior and Jordan Brand have only made 8,500 pairs of the Air Jordan 1 OG Dior High, and 4,700 pairs of Air Jordan 1 OG Dior Lows. So if you're one of the lucky 13,200 individuals who have managed to score a guaranteed opportunity to cop a pair (you're technically not obligated to purchase them if you've been selected but, dude, really?) there are two ways you can approach this.
We'd say this is one for keeps. You'd never own another pair like this ever. Wear and flaunt it because you deserve the right to do so after being able to score a pair. Or keep it in pristine condition in a glass case, because you know these sneakers are bound to be fetch a hefty profit down the line.
These are no ordinary sneakers and the prices reflect that. Take into account what early sales on StockX have been for the Air Jordan 1 OG Dior High, and you're possibly looking at a profit of upwards of 70 percent. That's not too bad of a margin.
But in all honesty, if we managed to cop a pair, high- or low-top, we'd never let them go; at least not for a long time. This is really one for the books.
If you want a piece of this history-making collaboration, there's still the Air Dior capsule collection that will be released in tandem with the sneakers. They're not as hyped about as the sneakers have been for sure, but the pieces are the sort of contemporary ease and quality that one would expect from Dior Men's Kim Jones. A number of pieces are also branded with the 'Air Dior' Wings logo, so you'd still have a piece of the collaboration that's definitely way easier to get a hold of.
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
