2016 Highlight Reel: Reebok
The last 12 months were big ones for Reebok. The brand saw a resurgence and made a real move towards the heated epicenter of sneaker game. Reebok came closer to a seat on the bigboy’s table through a comprehensive push across three key sectors – colabs, classics and new tech. We’ve selected the notable moments and compiled them here in a curated Reebok recap for 2016.
Reebok InstaPump Fury
There was a veritable deluge of InstaPump Fury releases this year. From goat-skin, to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles references and a re-up of the OG colourway – the futuristic runner was well and truly back in action. We’ve picked a selection of noteworthy colabs and colourways for your consideration.
BAPE x mita x Reebok InstaPump Fury
The three-way BAPE x mita x Reebok InstaPump Fury colab showed up with no warning. It’s somewhat comforting to be reminded that in an age of leaks and viral content we can still be taken by surprise. The colab saw black and grey camo supports shrouding a white upper. Not to mention the fact that they glow in the dark.
atmos x Reebok InstaPump Fury
Japan’s atmos continued their love affair with the InstaPump Fury with another take on the split soled silhouette. Their latest rendition takes us to the streets of Shinjuku with a pixelated zap of multicolour digi-print. Not one for the sartorially shy, the pattern shines like neon Tetris.
Disney x Reebok InstaPump Fury ‘Jungle Book Pack’
Disney collaborated with Reebok to produce a special take on the InstaPump. The pack saw two separate takes on the silhouette – the first in the guise of villain Shere Khan, the second in the guise of his slithering sidekick, Kaa.
The Question Gets Asked Again and Again
The Answer’s signature sneaker, the Question Mid, saw a big resurgence this year with a multitude of colourways and colabs. Seemingly in celebration of the one-two-punch of Allen Iverson’s entry into the hallowed hardwood of the NBA Hall of Fame and the 20th anniversary of the silhouette, the snub-nosed ‘bok got some silver service. We’ve selected three stand-out versions to serve as a curated example of the breadth of variations.
BAPE x mita x Reebok Question Mid
It’d be bananas not to include a BAPE colab in any top three. The sneaker was taken siege by an invasion of signature BAPE camo across its sculpted upper. mita sneakers joined in on the drop adding a Hercules helicopter load of hype
BAIT x Reebok Question Mid (Ice Cold)
BAIT paid tribute to one of basketball’s coolest characters, Allen Iverson, with a stone cold take. In homage to Al’s on-court unflappability, the sneaker got made up in an extremely ‘chill’ treatment with a metallic ice cube quarter. Taking the theme up a notch, the white midsole bears a reflective drip speckle that looks like condensation. Cool?,
Sneakersnstuff x Reebok Question Mid (Lux)
Allen Iverson was never the shy and retiring type and made a name for himself by taking the spotlight rather than putting his head in the sand. So it comes as somewhat of a surprise that his signature footwear took on the guise of the relatively demure ostrich. The luxury take sees the basketball silhouette decked in premium pimpled leather. Iverson never was a stickler for dress codes – so we think he’d approve.
The Intro of Reebok Liquid Speed
Sneaker tech keeps evolving and Reebok haven’t been left behind. The Reebok Liquid factory was developed as a collaboration between the new Reebok Future team and BASF (who you may know as the scientists behind Boost tech). The process uses some sci-fi styled computers and robots, that pump liquid material to draw shoe components in 3D layers. This means that all they have to do is draw it up on the computer and hit print, no more moulding for a faster, cleaner production process. The first shoe to come out of the Liquid Factory is the Reebok Liquid Speed, highly limited to a run of 300 pairs, each one individually numbered, tagged and boxed.
Highs and Lows x Reebok NPC UK
The NPC was another classic sneaker that was blessed with an invigorating re-up over the last 12 months, as was the Classic. The NPC saw some pretty great colabs including a sleazy Sneaker Politics version and a strapped Livestock drop, but we feel Highs and Lows take was something special. The Perth locals gave the tennis silhouette the most premium rework we’ve ever seen. While keeping the traditional tennis white theme, HAL incorporates the blue from a local hardcourt used during the Hopman Cup for the heel and branding highlights, with woodgrain eyelets offering a nod to classic tennis racquet — but that’s not even the best part! What really hits an ace is the supple Gerecke European deer leather across the build. Perfect.