A fan-favorite Kobe Bryant sneaker is set to rerelease for the first time ever next year.

Bryant’s Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low “Beethoven” shoe is set to receive a Protro (performance retro) update in 2025. Originally launched in August 2014, the Flyknit-based white, black and wolf gray sneakers combined a marled gray lateral side mixed with black and white with a fully white medial section.

Long before the “Panda” Dunk nickname came about, the “Beethoven” Kobe 9 Elite Low was a black-and-white sneaker that had fans clamoring for a chance to pick up a pair.

Known for his fervent interests outside of basketball such as martial arts and soccer, Bryant was also a noted fan of the legendary composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

“Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata calms me down when I reach my breaking point,” the late NBA legend tweeted in 2013 alongside a photo of himself playing the piano. 

An ESPN profile following Bryant’s 2016 retirement documents how he learned to play the “Moonlight Sonata” by ear in an attempt to earn wife Vanessa’s good graces after an argument. 

“If you just sit down and say, ‘I’m going to learn this thing until I do,’ there’s not really much out there that you can’t figure out eventually,” Bryant said in the ’16 article.

While there’s no explicit Beethoven reference on the Kobe 9 Elite Low, the pair’s white-and-black colorway is said to be inspired by the keys of a piano. During its original release, Nike noted that the pair also paid tribute to the composer’s Ninth Symphony (aka Symphony No. 9).

And although Bryant didn’t wear the “Beethoven” style in an NBA game, he did lace the pair up during a trip to Brazil during the ’14 FIFA World Cup. 

The upcoming Proto version will be the first time the “Beethoven” colorway has been reissued since its ’14 debut. Based on the early look, the ’25 Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low “Beethoven” will match the aesthetics of the original iteration. The pair is currently on track to be released in April at a retail price of $210. This story will be updated with any changes.

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Victor Wembanyama had a special pair of sneakers on hand for the San Antonio Spurs’ first home game of the NBA regular season.

Ahead of the Saturday match-up against the Houston Rockets, Wembanyama was photographed with a customized version of his go-to Nike GT Hustle 3 sneakers. Referencing both his 2024 Rookie of the Year award and his well-documented fandom of the “Star Wars” franchise, Wembanyama’s “Wookiee of the Year” GT Hustle 3s were inspired by the furry Wookiee species which populate the films. 

Like their Wookiee inspiration, the Nike GT Hustle 3s were draped in a shaggy brown and black fur which covered nearly the entire upper. Further customization included an alien face on the tongue – a nod to Wembanyama’s extraterrestrial comparisons – and “ROY 24” (Rookie of the Year) printed on the heel 

Surprisingly, Wembanyama didn’t end up wearing the shaggy sneakers in the tunnel, nor did he lace them up for on-court action against the Rockets. Instead, the 7’3” French star wore a more standard white-based colorway of the sneaker. Built with double-stacked Zoom Air cushioning, the GT Hustle 3 is considered one of Nike’s top performing basketball shoes of the moment. Although not a signature shoe, Wembanyama has been marketed as the face of the model in promotional materials.

In April, Nike held its  A.I.R. (Athlete Imagined Revolution) exhibition in Paris which featured experimental concept designs including an AI-designed prototype created specifically for Wembanyama’s foot. 

As for the game, the Spurs inched by with a 109-106 finish to tally their first win of the season. Wembanyama led the way for the team with 29 points and added 7 rebounds.

Given its impracticality for performance use, it’s highly unlikely this “Wookiee of the Year” version of the Nike GT Hustle 3 will be released to the public. However, other styles of the GT Hustle 3 sneaker are available now from nike.com for $190 each.

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Justin Bieber is no stranger to the world of fashion. Alongside creative director Ryan Good, the singer founded Drew House in 2018, a clothing line which features yellow as its signature color and specializes in loungewear such as slippers emblazoned with smiley faces. While Drew House is still active, Bieber has recently been teasing an even more ambitious line known as Skylrk (stylized SKYLRK), and it looks like a launch of the new label is now imminent. 

Over the last year, Bieber has been sporadically spotted in mysterious sneakers believed to be prototypes from the Skylrk brand. That theory was all but confirmed in April when another one of Bieber’s business partners, Neima Khaila, shared images of Bieber poring over the details of some of the same sneakers he had been previously spotted in.

The line is highlighted by a chunky, mesh-based model featuring a TPU cage which wraps around the foot and has been previewed in a number of variations by Bieber and Khaila. Bieber has also been photographed wearing other Skylrk-branded sneakers, including a leather-based model with puffy paneling, on numerous occasions.

Beyond athletic footwear, the singer recently teased molded foam slides and clogs, fuzzy slippers and more shoes which are believed to be tied to the Skylrk label. 

A 2023 US Patent and Trademark Office trademark filing reveals a logo for the brand, describing it as “two connected, abstract rectangles of different sizes with rounded edges above the word SKYLRK in stylized form.”

In terms of planned output, one of Skylrk’s trademark filing lists sneakers and boots, T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatsuits, hoodies and jackets as items that will bear its branding. A second filing covers eyewear product including fashion sunglasses, eyeglasses and glasses cases.

An April Instagram story shared by Khaila offered a further glimpse behind the curtain, revealing that the Skylrk brand has been years in the making. 

“We been calibrating for like 3 years, they not ready bro,” Khaila wrote.

While Bieber already has experience in the fashion world with Drew House, Khaila also comes from a clothing background. Khaila was CEO and co-founder of Pink Dolphin, a Los Angeles streetwear brand which had a decent amount of popularity during the 2010s. Pink Dolphin’s presence has waned in the years since, and Khaila has now distanced himself from the company he helped start.

The Skylrk brand name is connected to past Bieber lore. In 2018, the artist posted an Instagram photo alongside entertainer Bella Thorne with the caption “Meet SKYLARK TYLARK (my alter ego).”

After months of teases, it appears that the Skylrk brand is finally ready for a roll out. On Monday, Bieber updated his Instagram bio, replacing @drewhouse with @skylrk, perhaps signaling the beginning of a new era. The Skylrk Instagram account is currently blank, but there’s a skylrk.com site where fans can sign up for updates. 

Readers can find more Skylrk previews below and should expect an official announcement soon.

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South Korean brand Thisisneverthat will soon renew its partnership with New Balance through a new collaboration on the latter’s recently reissued 1000 model.

Images of a Thisisneverthat x New Balance 1000 collaboration were shared via Parisian retailer Starcow, perhaps prematurely as the product page has now been pulled. But the take down wasn’t enough to stop images from circulating, and now we have a clear glimpse at what’s coming next from the Seoul streetwear brand and the Boston-based athletic footwear imprint.

This duo will keep things simple for their next sneaker, relying on strong color blocking and subtle detailing to generate interest in Thisisneverthat’s vision of New Balance’s retrofuturistic sneaker.

Clad in a metallic silver synthetic which is era-apropos for the model, the Thisisneverthat x New Balance 1000 is accented with red and uses a wide mesh material as its base. Two of the eyelets are colored red to match the alignment of the “N” logo and “thisisneverthat” branding is embroidered both tongues and the heel of the right shoe, but the design is otherwise rather reserved for a collaboration. 

Originally released in 1999, the New Balance 1000 has been seen in numerous colorways since its April revival courtesy of Joe Freshgoods. Following its reintroduction, the New Balance 1000 has also received collaborations from Aimé Leon Dore and Ronnie Fieg’s Kith. 

Thisisneverthat is a frequent New Balance collaborator. They partnered for the first time in 2019 for a “Physical Fitness Uniform” colorway of the 997 and have since worked on models including the 827, 2002R, 860v2, 1906R and 550. 

Release information for the Thisisneverthat x New Balance 1000 has not yet been confirmed by either party, but the pair is expected to hit retailers before the end of the year. 

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Jordan Brand will reportedly refreshen a concept used on past designs with the release of an Air Jordan 1 coated in multiple layers of paint.

According to Sole Retriever, an Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Self Expression” colorway is on the way. As its name suggests, the pair will allow the wearer to express themselves by customizing the look of the sneaker however they see fit. The shoe will reportedly come with a black top layer which peels away to show a multicolor mid-layer before finally revealing a white innermost material. 

Nike and Jordan Brand have featured similar wear-away paint on past sneaker releases. Notable pairs include 2014’s Lance Mountain x Nike SB x Air Jordan 1, which was released in both black and white-covered painted styles and revealed original Air Jordan 1 colorways beneath. Similarly, Nike SB revisited the concept in 2019 with the Air Jordan 1 SB “LA to Chicago” and “NYC to Paris” styles. 

And the layered paint treatment isn’t solely used by Nike. A staple of Maison Margiela’s designs, the label has previously collaborated on Converse Chuck Taylors with caked-on paint that cracks away to show solid colors underneath. Designer Boris Bidjan Saberi has employed similar methods on his footwear collaborations with Salomon. 

In related news, several upcoming Air Jordan sneakers recently had their release dates postponed. Affected pairs include the highly anticipated Union x Air Jordan 1 and new colorways of the Nike SB x Air Jordan 4s, among others. 

Although in-hand images of the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Self Expression” have yet to surface, more specifics about the shoe are already known. The pair “Black/Black/Summit White” colorway is scheduled to release in full family sizing with a current launch window of fall 2025. Adult sizes will retail for $180. 

Some of 2025’s most anticipated Air Jordan releases will reportedly be arriving later than originally expected.

According to @brandon1an on X, at least five upcoming ’25 Air Jordan launches have been delayed to later in the year. Pairs included in the push backs include the latest Union x Air Jordan 1, new colorways of the popular Nike SB x Air Jordan 4, men’s and women’s “Rare Air” Air Jordan 1s and the “Rare Air” Air Jordan 4. 

A specific reason for the postponement wasn’t confirmed, although it’s speculated that the recent delay of another sneaker, the “Black Toe Reimagined” Air Jordan 1, has resulted in the shuffling of other styles. The “Black Toe Reimagined” Air Jordan 1 was originally expected to launch in October and has already arrived at some retailers, but the pair now reportedly won’t see a formal release until February 1. 

The new release timeframes for the delayed pairs are as follows. The Union x Air Jordan 1 will move from a February ’25 launch to summer. Instead of being released in March, the Nike SB x Air Jordan 4s will also arrive during the summer. Both the men’s and women’s “Rare Air” Air Jordan 1s, which were slated to launch in February and January, respectively, will now be released in the summer. Lastly, the “Rare Air” Air Jordan 4 was originally expected to be released in February, and that pair has also been moved to a summer launch. 

While the delayed releases may throw the plans of some sneaker fans into disarray, the good news is that the shoes in question will still be available, only at a later date. Alternatively, it September it was announced that a number of Air Jordans expected to be released during holiday 2024 were canceled altogether.

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The upcoming “Black Cat” Air Jordan 3 Retro isn’t coming alone. In addition to the all-black iteration of Michael Jordan’s third signature sneaker, its all-white “Pure Money” counterpart will also reportedly be returning for the first time ever next year.

Originally released in 2007, the “Pure Money” Air Jordan 3 Retro followed the theme laid out by 2006’s Air Jordan 4 of the same name. The white-and-metallic silver sneakers don a nearly tonal white design which is offset only by minor gray and silver accents. 

Like their “Black Cat” counterpart, the “Pure Money” Air Jordan 3 features shoelaces printed with the model’s signature elephant print design. Both pairs also include their nicknames in embroidery — “Pure $,” in the case of the white look — hidden behind the heel tab. Unlike the black pair, the “Pure Money” style does not feature a patent leather mudguard.

After introducing the “Black Cat” and “Pure Money” themes on the Air Jordan 4 Retro in ’06, Jordan Brand carried the concept over to the Air Jordan 3 Retro in ’07. The “Pure Money” pair led the way with a May ’07 launch followed by the arrival of the “Black Cat” in June ’07. 

To this day, neither Air Jordan 3 has seen a rerelease from Jordan Brand, but that’s set to change next year. The “Pure Money” and “Black Cat” Air Jordan 4s were reissued in 2017 and 2020, respectively. The “Black Cat” Air Jordan 4 is also expected to return in ’25.

According to @zsneakerheadz, the Air Jordan 3 Retro “Pure Money” will rerelease for the first time in 18 years during fall 2025. It’s worth noting that several Air Jordan releases have recently been reportedly pushed back, so it’s possible the launch window for this pair could change between now and then. 

This story will be updated with new developments. For now, readers can view the ’07 iteration below.

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While the Air Force 1 buzz may have cooled off some in recent years as attention has turned to slimmer silhouettes such as the Adidas Samba and Puma Speedcat, Nike’s early 1980s basketball shoe is the sort of timeless sneaker that transcends trends. One pair in particular, the white-on-white Air Force 1 Low, is among the most iconic shoes of all time, and Nike will be treating it to a premium update for spring 2025. 

Official Nike product images of a premium all-white Air Force 1 Low have surfaced in a mixed-material design reminiscent of the brand’s mash-up “What the” styles. Each panel on the upcoming Air Force 1 Low makes use of a different material, although unlike many of the brand’s “What the” concepts, the pair features matching left and right shoes. 

Materials include a woven leather toe box reminiscent of a 2003 made-in-Italy release and a heel which could be a reference to 2007’s ultra-rare Lux colorway, which was released for the model’s 25th anniversary for a retail price of $2,000 and featured real crocodile skin. While premium, the leathers used on the upcoming iteration aren’t as exotic, resulting in far closer-to-standard pricing. 

Other highlights on the new Air Force 1 Low include tumbled, perforated and patent leathers and a recycled rubber outsole. Also of note is the silver dubrae, which features a Swoosh in place of the usual “AF1” text.

Considered by many to be the most significant Air Force 1 style, the white-on-white Low was originally introduced to the market during the 1990s, although its exact time of arrival isn’t clearly documented.  

As of publishing, the multi-material “White/White/White” Nike Air Force 1 Low is expected to be released early ’25 at a retail price of $130. 

Shop Nike Air Force 1 Shoes

Nike Air Force 1 ’07 Shoes

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Virgil Abloh’s most coveted Off-White x Nike collaboration is expected to make a comeback in 2025.

Rumors of a ‘25 Off-White x Air Jordan 1 release have swirled on the internet for weeks, and new details appear to corroborate the early leak. While it seems all but confirmed that an Off-White x Air Jordan 1 will be released next year, the specifics behind the collab’s return to retail remain inconclusive.

Reports indicate that an Off-White x Air Jordan 1 inspired by Abloh’s original sample of the model will arrive during holiday ‘25. The pair is expected to come in a “White/White” colorway reminiscent of the blank canvas used by the late designer while prototyping the collaboration. There’s also a possibility the upcoming style could match the European-exclusive colorway of the sneaker, which was released in 2018.   

On the heels of 2017’s “The Ten” Off-White x Air Jordan 1 — which remains one of the most coveted collaborations between Abloh and Nike — the brands revisited the design just a few months later with the launch of the all-white iteration in March 2018. The white pair was strictly exclusive to European retailers and never launched stateside, meaning a potential ‘25 release would be the first time the sneaker was available in the US. 

Although it lacks the “Chicago” flair of the “The Ten” colorway, the European-only Off-White x Air Jordan 1 is one of Abloh and Nike’s most desirable designs. Its regional scarcity has led to highly inflated resale prices, and StockX’s 12-month historical data shows that the “White/White” pair has actually been selling for slightly more than the original “The Ten” version over the last year.

In ‘17, Abloh revealed that the “The Ten” Off-White x Air Jordan 1 was originally planned to be all-white. During the design process, Abloh saw someone wearing white Nike Dunks at the airport and changed his mind, deciding that the all-white versions of the models would potentially look too similar.

“I couldn’t tell if they were [Nike] Dunks or Jordans,” Abloh said. The lightbulb went off in my head: What makes the shoes iconic is the colorway. That’s when I was like, I almost made a mistake.”

Thus, the red, white and black “Chicago”-inspired pair ended up being the debut Off-White x Air Jordan 1, but the all-white theme was revisited shortly thereafter with the Europe release.

“People would have been like, ‘It’s cool, it’s just experimental. We’ve seen too many colorways of too many shoes; it’s not interesting,’” Abloh said of the sneaker’s original white-on-white look. “The shoe would have totally missed the mark.”

It remains to be seen exactly which Off-White x Air Jordan 1 will be released in ‘25, but for now, a “White/White” colorway with a style code of AA3834-100 is scheduled to arrive during the holiday season.

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Sneaker brands aren’t the only companies making the most out of Halloween. With Crocs’ annual “Croctober” celebration underway, the Broomfield, Colo.-based footwear label just released a new collaboration with Bark along with life-sized Crocs costumes.

For the first time ever, Crocs delivers what it says is one of the most-requested products in its company history: clogs designed for pets. In partnership with Bark, the new Pet Crocs are intended for dogs and feature four booties with adjustable straps.

Offered in two glow-in-the-dark colorways — “Green Slime” and “Dragon Fruit” — the Pet Crocs come in small (15-25 pounds), medium (26-50 pounds) and large (51-80 pounds) sizes. And for pet owners looking to match with their furry friends, the same colorways are available in adult-sized Classic Lined Clogs.  

“This Croctober embodies the innovative spirit of Crocs and honors our diverse fan base by demonstrating how our collective imagination can turn the ordinary into something extraordinary,” Crocs brand president Anne Mehlman said in a press release.

In addition to the first-of-their-kind Pet Crocs, the brand is also celebrating Croctober with full-sized Crocs Classic Costumes. Priced at $50 and available now, the oversized costume comes covered in rearrangeable Jibbitz charms and is constructed with polyester foam. Left and right shoe costumes are sold separately.

Throughout the month, the company is encouraging fans to share what Croctober means to them on social media by tagging @crocs. It’s also promising surprise gifting and exclusive product announcements.

In September, Crocs got ahead of the Halloween-themed footwear releases by launching a three-shoe horror movie collection on Friday the 13th. 

The Bark collaboration Pet Crocs ($50) and matching Classic Lined Crocs ($65) launch today on Oct. 23, which the brand has officially coined Croc Day. They are available from crocs.com and Crocs retail stores for a limited time. 

Crocs Pet Crocs Boots

$50 Buy Now at crocs

Crocs Pet Crocs Boots

$50 Buy Now at crocs

More About Crocs Classic Lined Clogs

Whether or not you’re twinning with a furry friend this Croctober, Crocs’ warm and fuzzy Classic Lined Clogs are a must-have in any fall and winter shoe rotation. Available in a wide range of permanent colorways, this Crocs shoe marries the comfort of an insulated slipper with the versatility of Crocs Classic Clogs — which Footwear News crowned as one of the Greatest Shoes of All Time. Consider it a socially acceptable slipper you can wear outside the house, whether you’re walking your pooch, grabbing groceries or traveling for the holidays. Plus, the cozy shoe can withstand harsh weather ahead, like snow, slush and mud, thanks to the brand’s waterproof and easy-to-clean Croslite foam construction.

Just like the OG Classic Clog that put the brand on the map, the Classic Lined Clogs are incredibly lightweight and offer similar support to recovery slides. Dual Crocs Comfort offers soft underfoot cushioning and slight arch support, while the inclusion of fuzzy lining adds an extra boost of comfort. Testers say they’re “warm and sturdy” and “go with everything,” and are especially beneficial for those who experience foot and ankle strain from common foot conditions like plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis.

Crocs Classic Lined Glow-In-The-Dark Marbled Clog

$65 Buy Now at crocs

Crocs Classic Lined Glow-In-The-Dark Marbled Clog

$65 Buy Now at crocs

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