Welcome back to GRM’s Top Tier Trainers, our guide to the coldest creps dropping this month!
Things are heating up this August with an array of long-awaited creps finally dropping after months of speculations, leaked images and rumours. After a month of Space Jam releases, LEGO designs and experimental Yeezy’s, it’s nice to see the titans of the game get back to basics, focusing on some classic silhouettes and collaborations. With clubs and raves finally underway, we have you covered with a curated collection of dancefloor-worthy creps that are sure to steal the spotlight this summer.
2ND AUGUST – ADIDAS YEEZY BOOST 700 MNVN ‘BLACK’
To mark the annual Yeezy Day, a number of trainers from Kanye West’s line will be re-stocked and among them are the Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 MVNVs in black. No small part of the 700 MNVN unusually different aesthetic is due to Kanye enlisting the help of industry pioneers Christian Tresser and Steven Smith. The two talented tailors giving the traditional mixed-material profile of the 700 a total overhaul, instead, replacing it with a trifecta of black nylon with heat-welded panels. The dramatic addition of an oversized 700 logo and herringbone rubber outsole gives the 700 a totally new aesthetic…one we are happy to see.
5TH AUGUST – NIKE AIR FORCE 1 ‘SUMMER OF SPORTS’
With Tokyo 2020 underway and with the UK currently having their best start to any Olympic games in history, we are definitely feeling the arrival of the new ‘Summer of Sport’ AF1’s! These timeless creps are far more stripped back and easier to understand than we would typically expect for a range honouring the multicoloured rings of the Olympics, however, there is a level of beauty in their simplicity.
The modesty and aversion to the opulence that pervades Japanese culture have been present in this year’s games from the Opening ceremony all the way through to today’s events. Therefore to craft a simple all-white design with minimalistic detailing hinting at the Olympic rings feels like a fitting reflection of the nature of this year’s games. Cold, classic, and a great way to show your Olympic pride!
1OTH AUGUST – NIKE DUNK HIGH “FIRST USE”
For the second instalment of Nike’s new ‘First Use’ series, they are initiating a new colourway of the Dunk High into the vintage-inspired collection. Unlike the muted cream shade of the previous edition unveiled in March, this ‘University Red’ edition is an electric and attention-grabbing counterpart to a simple series. Entangled strings threaded over a red suede mug guard and a simple white stitched swoosh create a delicate contrast with the white rubber midsole and tongue tag. The addition of a small time stamp stating ‘First Use June 18 1971’ instantly ties this pair to its retro ancestors – creating a contemporary trainer with a vintage aesthetic.
12TH AUGUST – AIR JORDAN 1 RETRO HIGH OG ‘SEAFOAM GREEN’
Hands down one of the most beautiful sights for sore eyes this season. The official unveiling of the ‘Seafoam Green’ J1 Reto’s has caused quite a fuss amongst fans who have been dying to see a new Joran 1 colourway. A colour blocking layout similar to the Chicago renditions of the J1 has been used to accentuate the orange detailing on the laces and swoosh. Although we should all bear in mind that these images are mock-ups and not official final releases, the burnt orange detailing strung delicately across the laces, swoosh and ankle are some of the nicest colour compositions we have seen in an original colourway in a long time.
13TH AUGUST – FRAGMENT X TRAVIS SCOTT X AIR JORDAN 1 LOW OG
Following on from the unprecedented success of the OG Mocha, Travis Scott has returned to send the sneaker scene into a frenzy once again with the new sleek Jordan 1 Low, joining the collection a little later into the month than its J1 high top counterpart. With the Jordan 1’s already being resold for ridiculous prices, fans will be glad to have this second opportunity to cop something from the latest Travis x Jordan collab.
An all-black toecap, black mudguards and blue heel detailing make this design deviate from the colour pallet used on the J1 high. However the familiar additions of an inverse Swoosh, ‘Military Blue’ and creme colour blocking definitely incorporate this shoe into the same family as the previously released J1 high design. The final inclusion of the ‘fragment’ tag to the right of the Nike tag is another unique detail that makes this drop one of the most sought after of the year.
20TH AUGUST – AURALEE X NEW BALANCE 550
It’s rare during a rookie collaboration with a large sneaker manufacture that a smaller brand is actually given the creative control to craft something that truly represents the ethos of the brand. Well, that’s exactly what AURALEE has achieved here with the AW21 collection that was unveiled in March.
Throughout the design, AURALEE has stayed true to its creative principles creating a uniform and free-flowing design that embodies the aesthetic of the Japanese streetwear trendsetter. The use of collegiate colour blocking creates an overall distressed quality to the shoe that adds a truly retro take to what some may have viewed as an overly simplistic design.
21ST AUGUST – AIR JORDAN 1 MID ‘UNIVERSITY GOLD’
The ‘University Gold’ colourway of the AJ1 Mid has seen various iterations over the last few years. Various models choose to emphasise the gold by colour-blocking both the mudguards and toecap leather in the iridescent material. However, the release of this model is a far sleeker and more understated take on the often hard to style colourway.
Blacked out laces and heel guards make this an instant classic whilst the golden Jordan logo on the tongue adds a luxurious quality to the near monochrome design. With the Olympics truly underway, this is your chance to bring home your own piece of gold this summer and
25TH AUGUST – NIKE AIR FORCE 1 ’07 LX ‘CRANE’
The new AF1 ‘Crane’ is a silky twist on the classic fan favourite AF1 silhouette. The additions of a blacked-out mudguard and black piping around the heel add a subtle contrast to the milky white leather that wraps around the whole design. A bright read tag has been added to the tongue, meant to represent the bold plumage on the head of a crane. Finally, a minimalistic crane emblem ties the design in a full homage to the Japanese inspired concept.
31ST AUGUST – NERD X ADIDAS NMD HU ‘CHALK WHITE’
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first N.E.R.D album In Search Of…, Pharrell Williams has once again teamed up with Adidas for a stunning new addition to the NMD Hu lineup. Whilst it’s unclear if Chad Hugo and Shay Haley had any creative input on the design, this special N.E.R.D version of Pharrell’s signature sneaker is as timeless and well rounded as the group themselves.
‘Clear Mint’ and ‘Glow Orange’ accents add an uplifting tone to an otherwise uniform ‘Chalk’ design. So far, no images have surfaced of the limited edition packaging said to house the shoes so this preview of the shoe will have to hold us over!
TBC – SACAI X KAWS X NIKE BLAZER LOW
Sacai has always had a revolutionary approach to Nike collaboration often bringing in other iconic characters of fashion such as Jean-Paul Gaultier to help craft something weird and wonderful. This months release is absolutely no exception. This time the Toyko based fashion house has teamed up with internationally beloved artist KAWS.
The two unite to blend their two distinctive styles on one canvas Blazer Low, both adding elements synonymous with their respective brands to create a design that radiates positivity and a love of the abstract. White-clad tooling emblazoned with the signature KAWS eyes stands in contrast with the yellow and blue overlapping swoosh detailing, creating a busy yet sleek design.