4. Villa x Timberland JTM Boot – Villa in Philadelphia collaborated with Timberland to produce these limited-edition classic 6″ boots. While red footwear was very on-trend for 2013, these were perfectly executed with the black leather collar, classic gum sole, and the fact that proceeds went to a local Boys & Girls club made them even better. Classic and traditional, yet bold and progressive – these found a high spot on my list for 2013.
3. Nike Air Jordan 3 88′ – ’88 Jordan, leaping from the free throw” – Pusha T. The Jordan III represents so much for Jordan’s and sneaker culture as a whole. According to history, MJ was ready to leave Nike, but once he sat down with legendary designer Tinker Hatfield – his mind was changed. Tinker’s first foray into Jordan’s was a game-changer and his design legacy would go on to lead to the creation of some of the most important sneakers of all time (Jordan III – XV, amongst countless others). The Jordan III is the perfect blend of technology and opulence. Incorporating a revolutionary visible air-unit with luxurious elephant print and tumbled leather was a game changer. MJ wore these performing the greatest dunk of all time in the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest, and the the fact that these dropped the exact minute when MJ secured his title 25 years ago made them even more special.
2. Nike Air Jordan 1 “Bred” – It doesn’t get any more classic than the original Air Jordan I. And it doesn’t get any more classic than the infamous black & red colorway that was banned by the NBA and sparked the notoriety and mystique of the Air Jordan. This is the shoe that started it all. As I’m writing this article, this particular 2013 edition hasn’t even dropped yet – but just like the Royals, these will feature the classic Nike Air on the tongue and a quality I’m expecting on par with the Royals. The only reason these aren’t #1 is because of the frequency they’ve been re-released in different iterations over the past decade.
