Today, January 23, marks the official start of the Chinese New Year in the United States. So, to get you ready for all of the Year of the Dragon inspired drops in 2012, we offer you an in-depth look at the full range of 2012 Chinese Zodiac releases from the likes of Nike, Jordan, New Balance, PUMA and Converse. Make sure you weigh in on which brand you think has the best YOTD releases at the end of the feature.<\/p>\n
While we are still in the dark as to when and how most YOTD releases will hit retailers, the YOTD AF1 was happily welcomed amongst the ranks of past Chinese Zodiac releases a little over a week ago. Loaded with subtle nods to the dragon atop a wealth of premium materials, these are a stellar addition to any sneakerhead?s collection.<\/p>\n
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Three different insole inserts, an elaborately tiered package and a bright blue and yellow colorway help welcome not only the Chinese New Year, but also the newest Air Jordan model from JB. With this YOTD release, the proof will surely be in the performance, as this pair begs for an immediate on-court test drive. After all, dragons, like His Airness, are known for their flight skills.<\/p>\n
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The words “straight fire” don?t usually come to mind when we see a shoe or set of shoes, but since we are talking about the Year of the Dragon and its obvious influence on these high-quality New Balances, it only seems right. NB is most associated with leisure, and these kicks are sure to not only offer extreme comfort, but also to get you noticed in any situation. They’re the ultimate sneaker win-win.<\/p>\n
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The Kobe VII from the Nike YOTD pack makes use of another unique colorway ? this time primarily made up of red, jade green and yellow ? to honor the Chinese New Year and the tenacity of the dragon. Lovers of the Christmas ?Cheetah? VIIs are sure to adore this eye-catching release, complete with a tiny dragon on the heel.<\/p>\n
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No YOTD releases take their inspiration as literally as Converse’s offerings, and this Jack Purcell is excellent proof as it comes covered in a pattern meant to look like glossy dragon scales. Low key enough for casual wear, but with just the right amount of flare, these Converse staples make honoring the Chinese New Year an ideally simple endeavor.<\/p>\n
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Engineered for the court and perfected for the street, the Sweet Classic is another Nike model getting the Year of the Dragon treatment. Dropping in two colorways, purple and red, both pairs feature a scaly Swoosh and dragon-embroidered tongue that make them perfect for any Chinese New Year party. In addition, you’ll always remember what year you got them thanks to the 2012 on each heel.<\/p>\n
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Featuring a plush red upper and a bold dragon print, this Chuck Taylor Ox is sure to be recognized as the Chinese Zodiac ode that it is. This pair, perfect for any season, is also worth consideration no matter how many Dragon-honoring kicks you?re planning to buy in 2012.<\/p>\n
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Adults aren?t the only ones that get to help bring in the Chinese New Year with their kicks. This YOTD-inspired Dunk Low is just for the kids and features an all-black upper with a contrasting red outsole and golden Swooshes. Don?t forget the textured, scale-like leather on the toe box either, as these GS sneakers are sure to turn heads no matter their size.<\/p>\n
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With uppers meant to recall ancient porcelain dragon decorations, these leather All Star His make the most of the Year of the Dragon theme. Dragon-shaped eyelets and black laces help set off the design, which reveals more intricate detailing and design the closer you look.<\/p>\n
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With premium leather uppers, round red laces and subtle dragon-inspired overlays, these Converse classics helps bring in the Chinese New Year in subdued style. Like all of Converse?s YOTD releases, this Hi and Low stand out from the pack in their simplicity and versatility.<\/p>\n
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Totally lush and honorably subtle in their ode to the dragon of the Chinese Zodiac, these are a perfect everyday pair of shoes once summer rolls around.<\/p>\n
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Another Converse sneaker featuring an overtly patterned ode to the dragon is this One Star 74 II, which opts for a red dragon scale effect throughout. A YOTD release like this one again proves that animalistic inspiration can be clean and classy, while still turning heads.<\/p>\n
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With this upcoming YOTD release, Nike offers a training-ready shoe that still pays obvious homage to the 2012 Chinese New Year. The highlight of this largely white sneaker is its red-speckled black outsole, which is partnered with a vibrant dragon emblem on the padded tongue. With these in your workout rotation, you?ll be sure to both build muscle and break necks.<\/p>\n
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Nike Zoom KD IV “Year of the dragon”<\/span><\/p>\n Arguably the most anticipated YOTD release from Nike, this KD IV follows the successful blueprint of previous hits such as the Nerfs and Weathermans by offering both function and head-turning style. With a bold Chinese wave patter on the strap and a dark blue dragon printed on each shoe, these orange and blue fire-breathers are worthy of the hype.<\/p>\n [polldaddy poll=5869151]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today, January 23, marks the official start of the Chinese New Year in the United States. So, to get you…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":149,"featured_media":199227,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[618],"tags":[1225748,1225465,453,1207782,1225736,1225517,1205128,1206466,1225473],"cultivate_rss":[],"class_list":{"2":"type-post"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n