Of Sneaker Collaborations and Creative Triumphs: The Best of 2025 So Far
Collaborations are no longer rare in sneakers. They are routine. Yet only a handful rise above the noise, balancing creative freedom with brand control and proving that co-creation can redefine a silhouette rather than just repackage it.
In 2025, several projects have managed to break through. Here are the collaborations that combine vision, cultural resonance, and commercial success.
Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 "Brick by Brick"
Ronnie Fieg called it “the best sneaker project of 2025.” Nigel Sylvester’s Brick by Brick Air Jordan 4 is built on a design philosophy as clear as its name: constructing a legacy one piece at a time.
The shoe follows Sylvester’s 2024 Air Jordan 4 RM hybrids and lands as his eighth collaboration with Jordan Brand. Italian-tanned leather and vintage-inspired hardware make it feel premium, while blueprint-style packaging extends the metaphor to the unboxing experience. It is more than a sneaker. It is a narrative object.
Veneda Carter x Nike Air Max Muse
Stylist-turned-designer Veneda Carter took a bold approach with her first Nike collaboration. Instead of revisiting an icon, she applied her signature textures and palettes to a prototype. The gamble worked. The futuristic silhouette sold out quickly, with another colorway already on the way.
Much like her earlier Timberland projects — patent leather boots and towering platforms — this debut showed Carter’s willingness to experiment and her ability to set expectations high.
Pharrell x Adidas Virginia Adistar Jellyfish
Pharrell Williams’ latest Adidas release is his most impactful since the Human Race NMD in 2016. The Virginia Adistar Jellyfish takes its cues from the sea, with a voluminous structure and soft, tentacle-like panels. The result feels both retro and futuristic, a Y2K lens bent into something new.
In a year where Pharrell has balanced Louis Vuitton responsibilities, a new brand platform, and a critically acclaimed Clipse album, this Adidas project still commands attention.
Levi’s x Nike Air Max 95 OG
Levi’s and Nike returned in 2025 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Air Max 95. Denim is the obvious connection, but the execution set the release apart. Three versions of the runner came in distinct washes with distressed detailing and embroidery.
The most coveted pair was the unreleased raw indigo version, given only to friends and family. For many, this reunion recalled the frenzy of the brands’ triple collaboration Air Jordan 4 in 2018, which was one of that year’s most hyped drops.
Basketcase x New Balance 204L
Basketcase, a California streetwear brand with roots in tattoo culture, reworked New Balance’s understated 204L and showed the results in Paris. Grey pony hair and suede gave the sneaker quiet luxury appeal, but it never reached retail. The shoe was gifted only to insiders.
Since then, Basketcase has teased more samples, fueling speculation of a broader release. For now, it remains one of 2025’s most elusive collaborations.
Undefeated x Air Jordan 4
Originally released in 2005 in a run of fewer than 100 pairs, the Undefeated Air Jordan 4 was Jordan Brand’s first external collaboration. For years, it existed as legend.
In 2025, the shoe returned in a full retro for its 20th anniversary. The release was supported by a documentary that chronicled its creation, but the real impact was that collectors finally had the chance to own what many consider the collaboration that started it all.
Bad Bunny x Adidas Ballerina
Bad Bunny’s Adidas partnership produced one of the year’s most unexpected shapes. The Ballerina reinterprets an Adidas taekwondo shoe with asymmetric toes, exposed heel tags, and a ballet-flat profile.
Three colorways dropped, including a Bruce Lee-inspired black and gold version that became the most sought-after on the resale market. In a year where slim, low-cut shoes dominate, Bad Bunny managed to stay on-trend without losing his design identity.
Awake NY x Air Jordan 5
Awake NY, founded by Supreme veteran Angelo Baque, made its Air Jordan debut by reimagining the 5. The collaboration introduced New York-inspired design elements and heavy branding, sparking debate on whether a classic silhouette should be altered so boldly.
The risk paid off. From the pop-up release to the social buzz, it has become one of 2025’s most talked-about sneakers.
Lil Yachty x Nike Air Force 1 "Us Force 1"
Lil Yachty’s second Air Force 1 project silenced the skeptics. The Us Force 1 took on glossy patent leather in clashing shades of red, green, and yellow. It was a sharp contrast to his understated 2024 debut.
Released in May, the sneaker has consistently resold for more than $500, proving Yachty’s place in Nike’s collaborative ecosystem is no one-off.
Vandy The Pink x Atmos x Asics Gel-Nimbus 10.1
Asics has been on a collaborative hot streak, but the three-way partnership with Vandy The Pink and Atmos was its most playful.
Known for her burger-inspired Salomon, Vandy turned the Gel-Nimbus 10.1 into a dessert. Two banana-split colorways hit retail, generating such frenzy that one fan accidentally spent $30,000 on the brand’s e-commerce site after missing a discount code.
The Takeaway
In 2025, sneaker collaborations are less about novelty and more about narrative. The best projects feel like fully formed creative statements. They borrow credibility from both sides of the partnership and turn it into something lasting.
These are not just shoes. They are cultural case studies in how far collaboration can go when it is treated as design, not just marketing.
