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.

NBA Stars Pay Tribute to Kobe Bryant With Sneakers On-Court

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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.

The Best Sneakers From 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend

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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.

Hailey Bieber’s Best Footwear Moments in 2024 So Far

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A retro Nike sneaker is about to take on the look of the most beloved Batman villain.

A new edition of the Nike Air Max 180 has immediately drawn comparisons to the Joker for its use of lime green and purple. Most of the suede and neoprene sneaker arrives in black, but its accenting colors invoke the Joker’s famous wardrobe. The outsole extends to the midsole’s arc over the heel Air Max unit in lime green to match the laces and Nike Air heel logo, while the heel stabilizer and tongue “180” mark arrive in purple. A portion of the outsole also arrives in translucent purple beneath the Air Max unit, and capping off the sneaker is a white suede Swoosh.

Sneakerheads regularly give a “Joker” nickname to sneakers making use of green and purple, but Stray Rats and New Balance invoked Batman’s nemesis in official fashion for a 2019 993v3 collaboration.

The Air Max 180 made its debut in 1991 and was the brain child of two legendary Nike designers, Tinker Hatfield and Bruce Kilgore. The idea was to make Air Max technology more visible then ever, and a blow moulding process allowed it to take up more territory through the heel. Urethane was also used for an outsole for the first time on the model, while neoprene helped provide a snug fit.

Just this year, Nike brought back the Air Max 180 with a one-to-one recreation of its original proportions for the first time in the “Ultramarine” colorway. The return of the “Concord” edition was also relished, as it was worn by Michael Jordan in a photoshoot for the 1992 Olympic “Dream Team.”

The Nike Air Max 180 “Joker” doesn’t yet have a firm release date but is expected to release before the end of 2024 with a price of $150. This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

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About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

Charli XCX has officially joined the Converse team.

The musician revealed the news on her Instagram account, and the partnership is one of the latest as it pertains to the brand’s growing lineup of celebrity collaborations. Having had an incredibly successful 2024 thus far with the release of her sixth studio album “Brat” in June (which sparked a major fashion trend over the summer), the artist has become known for her epic footwear choices, making this the perfect partnership.

The partnership kicks off with Charli celebrating her love for the Chuck Taylor All Star. She stars in a holiday campaign, which was shot by photographer Sharna Osborne.

Charli joins a Converse family of creators that already includes Tyler, The Creator, Billie Eilish, pgLang, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Alexis Sablone, Rick Owens, and Isabel Marant among others. More details about the collaboration are set to come in the coming months.

“I wear my Chucks so much they have holes in them, so I was really excited to work with Converse so I could get a new pair. They’re iconic,” the singer said in a statement. 

As far as other Converse collaboration updates, Billie Eilish also unveiled a new footwear collaboration with the brand a couple of weeks ago. The singer shared a picture of herself via social media on Oct. 15 holding a shoe reading “And Soft” on the bottom, which is a nod to her most recent album “Hit Me Hard and Soft.”

Having been regularly seen in Converse throughout the years, the brand then confirmed shortly afterwards that Eilish’s designs of the Chuck Taylor All Star ($100) and Chuck Taylor All Star Lift Platform ($110) models would be available on their website, with fans being able to tweak Eilish’s Converse designs to their liking using lyrics, colors and graphics from “Hit Me Hard and Soft.”

Aside from Charli XCX and Eilish, Converse also works with the likes of NBA superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, rapper and entrepreneur Tyler the Creator, legendary fashion designer Rick Owens and more.

A release date for Charli XCX x Converse is expected in the near future.

Ahnu’s Sneaker Collection, Photos

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An amusing logo mixup is bridging the worlds of fast food and sneakers as some people happen to mistake the Air Jordan wings logo for the Wingstop logo.

The account @resellingsecrets recently posted a carousel to Instagram featuring two instances in which the chicken wing company and Nike imprint were confused. The mixup is understandable — while they are not exactly the same, both logos feature a pair of wings with a circle in the middle, in addition to a curved banner bearing the brands’ names.

This is not the first time the mixup has entered the cultural conversation. A post went viral on Twitter/X in 2021 after a user said her mother thought her brother’s green Air Jordans were “wingstop shoes.” Inspired by the joke, Wingstop made a foray into the footwear business with the creation of the Lemon Pepper 1s — a sneaker developed with Shoe Surgeon and made possible to win by joining Wingstop’s fan club and engaging with the company on social media. Inspired by the chain restaurant’s colors, the shoes were green and white and featured chicken-inspired brown fuzzy Swoosh.

While Jordans are most closely associated with the Jumpman logo, the wings logo dates back to the 1980s when it debuted on the Air Jordan 1 during Michael Jordan’s rookie season in the NBA. Peter Moore, who designed the Air Jordan 1, came up with the logo when he saw a child on a plane with a pair of plastic wings gifted by a flight attendant. While the Jumpman became more popular in the long run, the original wings image lives on as Nike holds onto its heritage. For example, Travis Scott’s new Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Medium Olive” sneaker can be seen below.

Hailey Bieber, Rihanna & More Stars in Air Jordans

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Kyrie Irving began his NBA season Thursday night with a special pair of his Anta sneakers customized by The Shoe Surgeon.

The Anta Kai 1s worn by Irving in the Dallas Mavericks’ season opener were dip-dyed and hand-painted by the renowned sneaker customizer rather than undergoing one of the more dramatic reconstructions The Shoe Surgeon is often known for. Shades of blue and green from the Mavericks’ throwback uniforms appear throughout the sneaker, including a gradient feature both on the midsole’s heel. The shoe’s midfoot strap was also given a new set of symbols to feature the name’s of Irving’s parents, Elizabeth and Dred, in his custom typography. The Shoe Surgeon’s skull and sword logo appears on the heel pull, while Irving’s logo pops in red throughout the sneaker.

Since debuting in the spring, Irving’s first signature sneaker for Anta has been a major hit and has been joined by a number of other models. A simplified Anta Kai 1 Speed model debuted with a colorway designed by Irving’s father, while a “Chief Hélà” edition of the regular Kai 1 featuring moccasin-style fringe stands out as one of the more daring basketball sneakers to hit the NBA court. A skate shoe for Irving that will retail for $70 is also on the way to grow the line even further.

The Shoe Surgeon, whose custom sneakers are regularly worn in the NBA and NFL in addition to other sports, is currently embroiled in his own conflict with Nike, which dropped Irving prior to him signing with Anta. The footwear giant filed a $60 million lawsuit against the customizer accusing him of trademark infringement, taking issue with his sales of custom Nike products at scale rather rather than one-offs, as well as his workshops. In a public response to the suit, The Shoe Surgeon said he was “confused” because he’s officially collaborated with the company in the past.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

The sun is setting on Vasque, but not before releasing one more boot to keep outdoor enthusiasts out on the trail.

Available now is the Horizon, a boot Vasque stated was designed for casual hikers who want athletic-inspired comfort “without sacrificing traditional trail protection.” Vasque created the boot with low and mid heights, and is available in both women’s and men’s sizing.

Vasque built the Horizon with sustainable materials, including 60 percent recycled content in the heel counters and 50 percent recycled linings. Also, the boot’s energy-returning EVA midsoles are made with 20 percent sugarcane.

The boots also feature waterproof nubuck leather upper, as well as the brand’s VasqueDry waterproofing technology, durable rubber outsoles, comfort-focused open-cell PU insoles and reflective details for added visibility.

The Vasque Horizon is available now in a low for $130 and a mid for $140 via Vasque.com. Once the Vasque website shutters, the boots will be available via the Irish Setter website.

Red Wing Shoe Co. confirmed via email with FN on Oct. 11 that it immediately stop new product development, marketing and purchasing for Vasque. Also, it stated any open orders scheduled to ship before January 2025 will be fulfilled, and all spring 2025 orders will be cancelled.

“What consumers seek and how they want to both shop and buy has changed dramatically,” a statement from Red Wing Shoe Co. emailed to FN read. “These changes have forced us to re-evaluate our business proposition and opportunity.”

The statement continued, “This is not a decision that we took lightly. In fact, we evaluated many possible strategic paths. In the end, however, we do not believe that there is a viable path forward. With limited resources, we believe it is best for us to focus on the incredible opportunities we see in our core business and brands at Red Wing Shoe Company.”

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Nearly a year after it was first announced, Nikola Jokic’s first signature shoe has finally hit an NBA court.

The NBA’s reigning MVP debuted the 361 Degrees Joker 1 Thursday night during the Denver Nuggets season-opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The black and white sneaker features a leather upper with two distinct regions splitting the colors. Black leather takes on a puffy pattern for the upper portion of the shoe, while the tongue takes on a diamond quilted look in black leather. Jokic’s jester hat appears throughout, including at the center of studded trim separating the black and white areas and at the end of a stripe running over the toe and extending to the sole unit.

Details on the Joker 1’s technology have yet to be fully revealed, but it was revealed to feature a CQT Qu!k midsole and Diamond Grip traction during a preview earlier this month.

361 Degrees, a Chinese sportswear brand founded in 2003 and that’s grown strongly in recent years, announced it had signed Jokic to a signature shoe deal just days before the end of 2023. Jokic had long worn Nike sneakers prior, favoring the G.T. Jump for two years. Prior to debuting his own sneaker, Jokic had played in the 361’s Big3 Future High, which features a dual-layer midsole with a carbon fiber plate forked at the forefoot and a carbon fiber-woven upper.

Jokic is coming off of his third MVP honors in four years, making him one of just nine players to win the award at least three times. He also led the Nuggets to their first championship in 2023 to cap off a season that many argued should have garnered another MVP award.

The Joker 1 will test the star power of the Serbian player, who isn’t generally considered one of the faces of the league many considering him the best basketball player in the world and a combination of statistics and accolades that put him among the NBA’s historical elite. Jokic is often reluctant to be in the limelight and displays few of the overtly athletic feats that tend to command attention from the NBA’s typical brightest stars.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

The Big Apple showed up in droves for the New York Liberty at the team’s ticker-tape parade Thursday, celebrating the franchise’s first-ever WNBA championship. And, of course, the players arrived in style.

Jonquel Jones, the 2024 WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player, had a pair of MVP-caliber sneakers laced up: the Air Jordan 11 “Cool Grey.” And Jones is no stranger to having heat on her feet. She has her own iteration of the Nike KD 17, one inspired by the Bahamas where she was born and raised.

Sabrina Ionescu, one of the few WNBA players with a signature shoe franchise, also had coveted sneakers laced up. The sharpshooting guard had on the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low “Medium Olive.” She also had on a shirt Liberty fans would undoubtedly love to get their hands on, one that read “Yerrrnescu,” a nod to the New York slang term “yerrr.”

As for Breanna Stewart, the now three-time WNBA champion, she opted for a custom Puma Speedcat OG. Stewart is also a signature athlete, aligning with Puma in 2021 on her Stewie franchise.

WNBA veteran Courtney Vandersloot — who is now a two-time champion — wore a women’s Nike Dunk Low to the parade, specifically the “White Bright Cactus” colorway.

Several other beloved Liberty players had great looks on foot, including Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (Adidas Nova IIInfinity), Ivana Dojkic (Adidas Campus 00s), Marquesha Davis (Air Jordan 12 “Barons”), Jaylyn Sherrod (Nike Dunk Low “Panda”), Kennedy Burke (Nike Dunk Low LX) and Kayla Thornton (New Balance 480).

And it wasn’t just the players who had great sneakers on. Ellie the Elephant, the beloved mascot of the New York Liberty, showed up in custom Nike Air Force 1s, dressed in the team’s seafoam hue with bright white midsoles.

The Liberty’s ticker-tape parade began at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, traveling up the “Canyon of Heroes” along Broadway, ending at City Hall. And while at City Hall, the New York City Council announced that it had approved a resolution to make Oct. 20 the annual New York Liberty Day.

The Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals on Oct. 20, earning the team’s first-ever championship.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.