Sneaker culture – Syndication Server

The McDonald’s-inspired Hamburglar, Birdie and Grimace shoes Crocs just released are the creepiest things ever

These shoes all have eyes and they stare back at you.

It’s not hard to make an ugly pair of Crocs. The shoes are just generally hideous pieces of footwear.

They’re basically just wearable thumbs for your feet. Did anything about that last sentence sound aesthetically pleasing? Your answer should be no. If it is yes, please let me know immediately and send me your location so I can inform the authorities of your whereabouts. Thanks.

Anyway, I digress. The point of this article isn’t to tell you that Crocs are ugly. You know that already.

What I’m here to inform you is that McDonald’s and Crocs have collaborated to make some of the most heinous pieces of footwear I’ve ever seen.

The brands released four pairs of Crocs — three clogs inspired by McDonald’s, Hamburglar and Birdie as well as another pair of fuzzy slides inspired by Grimace.

Here’s a look.

Yikes, right? I don’t know what’s worse — the fact that these all exist or the fact that they also have eyes. It makes them even creepier. Grimace, in particular, is just staring into the depths of your soul and telling you to go buy a Big Mac right now.

Grimace was already creepy as is. I don’t need his eyes staring right back at me from my feet. That’s weird.

Listen, man. If you’re into these, more power to you. But you’ll never catch me in a pair.

New Balance’s new “Mooz” collaboration with Aminé is one of its most fun drops yet

The Amine 610 has so many fun details. Check them out on the latest episode of Special Delivery

New Balance’s 610 has been one of its most popular models for 2023 so far and there have been a number of collaborations that have solid.

But these Aminé joints? Man, these are so much fun.

I’m not normally a fan of patent leather on my sneakers — especially on trail running shoes that are supposed to come with a bit of functionality in them. But the rapper-turned-sneaker designer did his thing with these.

From the reflective panels to the speed lace to the snow globe with a jewel in it, everything about the sneaker just feels so creative. We were able to get these joints for an unboxing on Special Delivery and had so much fun with it.

Tap in to see all of the details.

Nike’s Air Mac Attack is finally getting all the love it deserves

The more colors we get of Nike’s Mac Attack, the better.

Nike’s Air Mac Attack is having a moment in sneaker culture.

When it originally dropped as John McEnroe’s signature model it was special. It rebelled against every norm that came with tennis. Normally tennis shoes were all white, but the original Mac Attack was black and grey. It didn’t come in any other color.

As a result, though, the shoe never returned after its 1984 debut. It lasted for a while, but as decades passed it sort of just faded into the ether. Until now.

Now, in 2023, we’re finally getting a Mac Attack resurgence. It’s coming in more colors with more creativity. One of the new pairs is the yin and yang colorway that we just had on the latest episode of Special Delivery.

This colorway is simple, but it’s significant for the shoe moving forward. We dive into it on the latest episode of Special Delivery.

Tap in.

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New Balance’s new 990v6 model is getting a makeover with this “Mindful Grey” colorway

The New Balance 990v6 has never looked this good before.

It’s hard to figure out why New Balance named its latest 990v6 model “Mindful Grey” considering the fact that there are so many shades of brown all over it.

But, honestly, after staring at it for a while, it stops mattering. The shoe is just that beautiful.

The 990v6 model is the latest in the 900 series line for New Balance and this is easily the best colorway to come out — collaboration or otherwise. On today’s episode of Special Delivery, we dive into why this sneaker is so good and what makes this colorway work regardless of its silly name.

Tap in.

Adidas turned its past into its future by transforming an old Kobe Bryant signature shoe model into something special

The Adidas Kobe models have a new life. Check it out on this episode of Special Delivery.

Many people don’t know this, but Kobe Bryant was once a signature shoe athlete with Adidas.

Most people don’t know that because the models aren’t looked at too fondly across the board. For good reason. They’re big, boxy and clunky. They’re just generally not thought to be as good as the models Bryant produced with Nike.

But there’s still a nostalgia that comes with them that has made them charming in recent years. Things have turned around a bit. Now, Adidas wants to tap into that.

According to data from eBay’s sneaker department, the Kobe 1 signature model the new Crazy Infinity 2.5 is modeled after is one of the most searched Adidas Kobe sneakers on the platform by volume so far in 2023. Three of the top seven models are all Kobe 1s.

That growing popularity is why Adidas is tapping into that with the new Crazy Infinity 2.5. The brand completely transformed Bryant’s old signature sneaker into something completely different. Fans are absolutely loving it so far.

On this episode of Special Delivery, we tap into why. Check it out.

Ranking the 20 greatest signature sneaker lines ever, from Michael Jordan’s (duh) to Steph Curry’s (yes, they’re good!)

Here are the best signature sneaker lines of all time.

Generally, when people think about signature shoes they only think about a handful of athletes.

The Michael Jordans of the world. LeBron James. Steph Curry. The same names that we’ve been constantly talking about over the last few years. That’s where most of the signature sneaker conversation goes.

But there’s so much more to it than that. There are so many different athletes with so many different pairs that were so incredibly good. And they don’t all just come from the NBA — there’s lots of goodness from athletes in other leagues. There are even some great signature lines that come from outside of basketball.

Here’s a definitive ranking of the 20 best we’ve ever seen. Enjoy.

Bape celebrated its 30th anniversary in the right way with these new Adidas Forums

I simply cannot believe Bape is 30 years old. Wow.

It’s hard to believe that Japanese streetwear brand, Bape, has been around for 30 years at this point.

Most of us became familiar with the brand in the mid-2000s when big names in hip-hop like Pharrell, Kanye West and Lil Wayne were sporting the classic Bape camo print. It’s a household name because of that.

But, for the staunchest fans of Bape, they know the brand became a staple in hip-hop in the 90s and it took off from there. Today, it’s being celebrated as one of the most important brands in sneaker culture.

And Adidas did it the right way with these new pairs of Adidas Forums in that classic Bape camo print. We’ve got them right here on the latest episode of Special Delivery.

Tap in.

How internet leaks ruined Jayson Tatum’s first signature sneaker with Jordan Brand

Jayson Tatum’s signature shoe deserved better

There’s a youth movement at Jordan Brand when it comes to the signature athletes on their roster. Jayson Tatum is absolutely the most accomplished out of all of them.

So, naturally, you’d think that Jordan Brand would like to have done a pretty significant rollout of Tatum’s signature sneaker considering that. He’s been one of the best players on one of the best teams in the NBA for, at least, the last three seasons. Tatum is the Jordan Brand headliner at this point.

Unfortunately, Jordan Brand didn’t really get a chance to execute their full plan with Tatum because, well, the internet internetted. Leaked images of Tatum’s signature shoe that released before the shoe ever came out completely changed the perception of the sneaker.

We talk about all that and more on this episode of Special Delivery. Tap in.

Hal Studios and ASICS’ Gel-1130 is one of the most detailed sneaker collaborations of 2023

You absolutely need to check out this new work from Asics

You don’t see a collaboration from Asics as you would something from, say, Nike or Adidas. But when Asics does work with another brand? The details are always on point.

That’s the vibe that you get with the Hal Studios x Asics Gel-1130.

This sneaker truly has the goods. It comes with a range of different materials on it, from open and breathable mesh to leather and even a bit of hairy suede. But the part of the sneaker that is so incredible is the inspiration behind the color palette.

This shoe’s design honors the Japanese culture in which Asics is rooted in and it makes for a pretty incredible story.

Find out more about it on this week’s episode of Special Delivery. Tap in.

Adidas is reportedly going to begin selling Yeezy sneakers again, and that’s not a good look

This is not a good look for Adidas.

Remember those baseless rumors about Kanye West and Adidas getting back together again after the brand severed its relationship last year with the fashion mogul?

Well, it turns out those rumors may not have been so baseless after all.

Adidas isn’t working with West again, but the brand is reportedly going to begin selling his Yeezy sneakers again in the near future, according to The Washington Post.

During a company call on Thursday, newly minted CEO Bjorn Gulden reportedly told shareholders that the company decided to sell the Yeezy sneakers and donate proceeds to charity.

That, of course, means Kanye West himself will get a piece, too. And that’s exactly why this whole thing is messy.

Let’s dive into the details.