The New Balance 1906L in black leather delivers a matte look similar to its suede predecessor, but without the fuzz. Smooth leather panels are used throughout the layered upper, with the exception of the TPU heel stabilizer. And if you’re looking for a departure from black, the only places you’ll find it are on the small silver branding hits.

Ever since it debuted in early 2024 at Paris Fashion week through a Junya Watanabe collaboration, the 1906L has proven polarizing. Some see the hybrid sneaker-loafer as an abomination while others rejoice in the daring collision. But for however loud the former crowd may be, it hasn’t stopped the latter from causing sellouts each time a new 1906L has dropped.

The formula for the 1906L is relatively simple. The sole unit from the hit 1906R, which is itself borrowed from the 860v2, is left untouched for all the comfort you’d expect from a sneaker. Laces and tongue are then removed from the upper, and in its place comes the famous slotted panel where some might put a penny. Some of the lines have also been altered, and some of the variants have moved past the initial mesh and synthetic leather build that served as a more direct connection to the original sneaker.

A release date has yet to come for the 1906L in black leather, but you can expect it to drop soon based on the usual cycle of leaks and releases. Pricing is set at $160.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

The Anta Kai 2 “Artist on the Court” will launch at the end of February with a purple colorway similar to that used for the introduction of the Kai 1 a year ago. And just like the Kai 1’s two offshoots, the lighter Kai 1 Speed and more affordable Kai 1 Team, a strap no longer runs atop the performance basketball shoe.

Other changes appear to be more aesthetic rather than functional, as no significant developments in technology have been announced for the Kai 2. A stepped and pattern design brings a new dimension to the midsole, and the upper balances wavy lines inspired by the brushstrokes of Fauvist art for its layered toe tip with raised zig zags adorning its heel. Embroidered decorations appear throughout, and it’s impossible to miss the fuzzy laces that constitute half of a double-lace system. Gold-tone metal lace tips add to the flourishes

“The KAI 2 is a culmination of everything I’ve envisioned — seamlessly merging cutting-edge innovation with futurism to bring my creative evolution to life,” Irving said in a press release. “From the laces to the look and feel, every detail reflects the most dynamic and expressive shoe I’ve ever worn. No one’s shoes look like this. It’s about bringing the art of footwear to life in a way that’s never been done before.”

In just a year, Irving’s line for Anta has not only birthed a signature shoe with two spinoffs, but also a lifestyle sneaker inspired by ’00s skate shoes. That makes the Anta Kai 2 the fifth model overall for what’s quickly become a prolific partnership.

The Anta Kai 2 “Artist on the Court” is available through a drawing open now through February 28 on Anta’s website. Select third-party retailers will also drop the sneaker on the same date as the drawing’s conclusion, and pricing for the shoe is set at $140.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

New York City sneakerheads have been invited by Nike to make their best trade offer for the Air Foamposite One “Galaxy.” An official entry form (found here) allows those interested to sign up for the opportunity to make a trade. All they have to do is submit their name, email, shoe size and what they have to offer to trade. Those chosen will then be invited Thursday, February 20, to a secret location in order to make the swap.

The rules for what can be traded are simple: nothing illegal, no drugs, no guns, no animals, no food and no vehicles. With those stipulations, Nike encourages the wildest offers — although whether that means wild in terms of monetary value or intrigue remains nebulous.

Nike isn’t the only party paying tribute to the story of the man who tried to trade his purple 1996 Chevy Cavalier for a pair of “Galaxy” Foams. PJ Tucker, the undisputed king of sneakers in the NBA, wrapped a ’96 Chevy Corvette in a galaxy print for a giveaway during NBA All-Star Weekend.

If you want to engage in a more traditional exchange of money for sneakers, the Nike Air Foamposite One “Galaxy” will release Friday, February 21, through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $230.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

Kith and On have formally announced their collaboration on the Cloudzone, a brand-new model from the Swiss brand with technical specs that have yet to be divulged.

Available in all-black or all-white colorways, Kith’s take on the silhouette features a new On logo incorporating elements of the Queens Unisphere in a similar fashion to the two parties’ first partnership in 2022. The remixed mark appears on the shoe’s lateral side, while its medial hosts a Kith & Kin logo. Additional branding can then be found on the tongue, heel and toe cap.

The Kith x On Cloudzone will release through a drawing opening Thursday, February 20, on Kith’s app. The white version will then go on sale Friday, February 21, in Kith’s global websites and stores. The black one, however, will be exclusive to U.S. channels.

What We Originally Reported on February 18, 2024

Kith‘s next collaboration with On appears to be doing a lot of heavy lifting.

Ronnie Fieg teased Kith’s take on a mysterious On sneaker Monday, and a day later the On Cloudzone was revealed by name as part of another teaser for a new line called KTech (or Kith Technology). Little else has been revealed about the sneaker, but branding for On’s Speedboard plate can be seen on the all-black colorway previewed by Fieg, which indicates that the Cloudzone should be on the higher end of running performance. Kith’s spring 2025 lookbook, released earlier this month, also showed the Cloudzone in an all-white makeup.

Kith’s broader tease for KTech indicates the line will include in-house designs for a hat and T-shirt, as well as a collaboration with Jordan Brand on shorts. Text in the promotional image calls out performance technology including “tech finish” nylon, engineered mesh, “active honeycomb,” “four-way tricot,” laser perforations and more.

On and Kith have collaborated just once previously, as they released a special editions of Roger Federer’s Roger Clubhouse Mid and the Roger Pro to form the RF2 set in 2022. The two sneakers could only be bought together for $500.

The Kith x On Cloudzone appears set to release Friday, February 21, based on the KTech campaign image. More information should come as the week continues, and Footwear News will keep you abreast of any updates.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

The Nike Air Max 1 Low Poly “Tomb Raider” has been revealed soon after another colorway paying homage to “Donkey Kong” leaked. While that edition plays with textures to invoke its famous ape, the “Tomb Raider” edition is more straightforward in its use of suede and mesh. Both the white mesh base and grey suede overlays play with the Low Poly style to create a false sense of dimensionality. The green suede overlays, including the Swoosh, are then cut with harder edges than normal to continue the digital theme.

Bryce Wong, a designer for the Nike .Swoosh line response for the remixed Air Max 1, revealed the second video game-inspired sneaker on his Instagram — perhaps in a move to get ahead of the leaks that spoiled the surprise on the “Donkey Kong” version. And while the “Tomb Raider” colorway probably won’t be an official collaboration, Wong made sure to include a healthy dose of imagery featuring Lara Croft in the background of his shots to make the source material quite clear.

The Air Max 1 is also making waves this week with the first of Supreme’s four reported colorways being revealed through the streetwear label’s spring 2025 lookbook.

A release date hasn’t yet been announced for the Nike Air Max 1 Low Poly “Tomb Raider,” but with Air Max Day coming in March it could be right around the corner. Pricing is likely to be set at $150.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

The Supreme x Nike Air Max 1 has been shown for the first time in Supreme’s spring 2025 lookbook. Leakers have suggested the black and white colorway will be one of four total to release at some point in the months ahead.

No images have been shown for the three other variants, but leaked color codes suggest a pair in white, as well as two more making separate use of “Varsity Purple” and “Speed Yellow.” Such an assortment would follow the pattern of past capsules, as Supreme typically does a pair each dominated in black and white and then goes less predictable for however many colorways may remain.

Supreme’s two lookbook images don’t reveal much about the collaboration, but what is apparent is that the silver-tone Supreme lace dubrae from its Air Force 1s will carry over to the Air Max 1. Supreme has also opted for the small secondary Swoosh on the toe tip that pops up on more modern variants.

With four colorways reportedly in the pipeline, it’s more likely that Supreme’s Air Max 1 will be a one-time affair rather than a perennial item like the Air Force 1 Low.

The forthcoming season is also expected to bring a new take from Supreme on the SB Dunk Low in May featuring as many as five colorways.

The Supreme x Nike Air Max 1s don’t yet have a release date but will arrive at some point during Supreme’s series of weekly drops for the spring 2025 season. Expect the shoes to drop through Supreme’s website and physical stores for a price of $170 each. A Snkrs release could also go down but is not guaranteed.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

The Tom Sachs x Nike Mars Yard 3.0 will release in September, and Sachs’ Instagram caption saying, “Action will be required” suggests some sort of activity will be required to purchase the sneaker similar to the New York City obstacle course from 2017. In addition to revealing the release month, the artist also broke down the shoe’s new features to a high degree of detail.

A carbon fiber plate within the React midsole is the most technical of all the Mars Yard 3.0’s elements. Rather than appearing as its own panel, the Swoosh has been screen-printed directly onto the open mesh polyester. A new black TPU toecap comes in at 90 on the durometer scale of 0 to 100, as does the translucent TPU heel clip. In a men’s size 9, each shoe will weigh just 465 grams, which is roughly twice the weight of most supershoes and lighter than a lot of basketball shoes you’ll come across.

The Mars Yard 2.0 was one of the most significant sneakers released in the 2010s, and resale prices that have gone up as high as $10,000 also make it one of the most valuable. In 2021, both the promotional cycle and the development cycle for the successor began simultaneously with Sachs inviting select members of the public to participate in a wear test for what was dubbed the Mars Yard 2.5.

2022 then brought Sachs’ General Purpose Shoe, which was intended to be both “boring” and easily accessible — to the point of going on sale at Kohl’s — and got three total colorways by 2023. Then, of course, came the bombshell report on Sachs’ New York City studio and the abuse/harassment his employees were allegedly subjected to.

Sachs eventually apologized while denying some of the allegations. Nike said at the time, “We are not working with Tom’s studio at this time and have no release dates planned,” — and that then changed with the announced return to their partnership last September.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

Naturally, a bounty of signature sneakers took the court. Ten of them in fact, and there would have been 13 had it not been for injuries. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave his first signature sneaker, the Converse Shai 001, its on-court debut in “Butter. Kyrie Irving did the same for his Anta Kai 2, and so too did Donovan Mitchell for his Adidas D.O.N. Issue 7.

There were also a good deal of player-exclusive colorways to grab your attention, beginning with a new Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Year of the Snake” for Jalen Brunson. LeBron James was also set to debut a “Captain Planet”-inspired Nike LeBron 22 as a break from the “Black Label” collection, only to be ruled out because of injury.

Below, you’ll find all the sneakers worn on the court for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.

Kyrie Irving: Anta Kai 2

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Converse Shai 001 “Butter”

Kevin Durant: Nike KD 18 “Black Label”

James Harden: Adidas Harden Vol. 9

Donovan Mitchell: Adidas D.O.N. Issue 6

Damian Lillard: Adidas Dame 9

Steph Curry: Curry 12 “What the Bay”

Jaylen Brown: 741 Performance Rover

Nikola Jokic: 361 Joker 1

Jayson Tatum: Jordan Tatum 3 “Blueprint”

Victor Wembanyama: NBA G.T. Hustle 3 “Black Label”

Jaylen Brunson: Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Year of the Snake” PE

Trae Young: Air Jordan 39

Karl Anthony Towns: Nike GT Jump 2

Tyler Herro: Nike Sabrina 2

Evan Mobley: Adidas x Fear of God Athletics Basketball 2

Cade Cunningham: Nike G.T. Cut 3

Jaren Jackson Jr.: Nike G.T. Hustle 3 “Black Label”

Pascal Siakam: Nike KD 17

Jalen Williams: Adidas Harden Vol. 9

Jaylen Wells: Nike Ja 2 “Black Label”

Trayce Jackson-Davis: Adidas Adizero Select 2.0

Dalton Knecht: Air Jordan 39

Stephon Castle: Air Jordan 39

Ryan Dunn: Nike Kobe 6 Protro “All-Star 2.0”

Keyonte George: Nike Kobe 6 Protro “All-Star 2.0”

Amen Thompson: Nike Sabrina 2 “Black Label”

Alperen Sengun: Nike LeBron Nxxt Genesis

Zach Edey: Nike G.T. Hustle 2

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

The 26-year-old leading the NBA in scoring this season played a more involved role than in designing the Converse Shai 001 than is usual for a signature athlete, and that isn’t just hallow marketing. Gilgeous-Alexander really drew the Shai 001 himself, which may only come as a surprise to those who weren’t aware that drawing has been his hobby since he was a child growing up in Toronto.

After all, he did draw his own logo as well. And he is the creative director for Converse Basketball. And he was named GQ‘s Most Stylish Man of the Year in 2022, as well as being named the most stylish athlete for two consecutive years.

Many technical specs are still yet to be announced, but the Shai 001 benefits from the synergy of the Nike umbrella by utilizing Zoom Air bag at the forefoot. It’s signature design element is its puffy, zippered shroud, which is allowed to stand out in its debut monochromatic “Butter” colorway. Ghillie laces are contained underneath the zipper, which is intended to have the option of being left open for lifestyle wear. The zipper can also be locked in place to allowed the shroud to stay unfolded as you please.

A radial traction patten is designed for the cuts that define Gilgeous-Alexander’s game. And while wear is always going to be different on concrete courts than hardwood, the shoe underwent rigorous testing to ensure it could stand up to both indoor and outdoor hoops.

“For me, it was acknowledging the past and the history and all the groundwork that Converse has been to basketball, but completely turning it, twisting it, shaping it into my expression, my art form, and my feeling of what a basketball shoe could look like,” Gilgeous-Alexander said in a Zoom call with journalists ahead of the official announcement. “And that’s what it was all about for me. The platform and the situation I’ve been put in is because of many, many years of hard work. Without those people, I wouldn’t be here today. And because of that, I’m able to kind of show the world what I think and what I feel in a basketball shoe.”

In addition to being a milestone for Gilgeous-Alexander in rise to the top of the NBA’s highest echelon, the Shai 001 is also the biggest moment yet in Converse’s return to basketball. A seven-year period of dormancy left the brand that created the sport’s first dedicated shoe out of the arena entirely, and since Converse got back in the game in 2019 it still hadn’t had a signature athlete until now. The last Converse basketball to get his own shoe was Dwyane Wade, whose line ended in 2007 in after three sneakers prior to him joining Jordan Brand (and later Li Ning).

“I’ve been working with top athletes for 20 years in this field, and I’ve never met an athlete that can sketch like Shai,” Steven Keating, global senior creative director of Converse Footwear, said in the video call. When we first met, I introduced myself and told him that my entire role here is to bring your vision to life. I had no idea what that meant at the moment. I didn’t know what kind of design skills he had. He completely surprised me — also, a very talented artist in general. But then also brought his unique style to the table as well. The collaboration was amazing. Working with an athlete that can sketch and has a vision was truly unique in my experience.”

The Converse Shai 001 won’t go on sale until the fall, but fans will have the opportunity to see it for the first time during NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, February 15 through 16, at Converse’s “Shai 001 Studio” activation at 300 Grant Ave., San Francisco, CA 94108.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.