What Does the Rest of 2021 in Sneakers Look Like?
If 2020 was a wild year in sneakers, think about how unpredictable 2021 has been so far. Sneaker anniversaries are coming and going, the game is becoming more and more digital, and companies are changing hands like playing cards. With trends constantly evolving, it can be even harder than normal to anticipate the future. Lucky for you, Sneaker Freaker are up to the challenge! Here are our predictions for what else could emerge in the sneakersphere before the year is out.
adidas EQT Finally Gets Its Roses
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the adidas EQT range. Long before BOOST and Primeknit, adidas Equipment represented the absolute pinnacle of Three Stripes performance. There’s a trope that gets thrown around about precision German engineering, and adidas EQT is a perfect example of that famed ingenuity. A good browse through the brand’s ‘Life Needs Equipment’ microsite offers a promising look at the next few months of releases under the Consortium umbrella, which includes OG bringbacks and premium collaborations. Plus it looks like the intervention is not an invasive one. The colourways look great, so hopefully fans and newcomers are receptive to this new EQT.
Bots Will Only Be Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
With online releases becoming more and more prevalent as the preferred way to drop sneakers, the bots are still a few steps ahead. Exhibit A: the Travis Scott x Fragment Design x Air Jordan 1 – both High and Low versions – were botted out the wazoo, with the official Cactus Jack and SNKRS sites groaning under the significantly heavier online traffic. Bots are proving fairly successful on these big drops, snagging hundreds of pairs each time. While it seems to be a continued tit-for-tat, and retailers are finding ways to circumvent the onslaught from the 0s and 1s, the sneaker world is definitely experiencing the rise of the machines.
The sacai Effect Continues
If procuring the dozens of sacai x Nike collaborations released so far – not to mention the seven additional LDWaffles on the way – is proving difficult, look to the rest of the Swoosh offering. It appears the double-stacked effect is trickling down into Nike GRs and seasonal models, such as the wild Air Max Furyosa with its dual-layered Air units, and the Dunk High Rebel that effectively offers two sneakers for the price of one thanks to its twin everything. There’s even a few Blazers in the market right now that are laced up with two pairs of shoestrings from factory.
Reebok Dropping More Heat
After months of market speculation and hearsay – plus an unexpected expression of interest by Master P – adidas will be completing their handover of Reebok to Authentic Brands Group. The $2.5 billion transaction will result in the Vector brand sitting alongside other ABG brands including Airwalk and Volcom, but it’s unlikely they will exert immediate influence. Which means Reebok will continue to drop absolute heaters across their GR and collaborative range, at least for the rest of 2021. What the product assortment looks like beyond that remains to be seen, so let’s enjoy what is available now and coming in soon.
Check out some other sneaker trends predicted for 2021 here.
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