Retro shoes cause campouts and bring back memories, but only on occasion do they shift culture. Though the past decade has been more or less dominated by footwear from yesteryear, many new designs have made a profound impact on the sneaker culture and the sneaker industry. Focusing on the new classics rather than the old, we spotlight ten shoes from the past ten years that helped define the decade.<\/p>\n
Released:<\/strong> 2003<\/p>\n This seems like an obvious pick with all the Jordan comparisons, but it\u2019s pretty remarkable how good this shoe looks ten years later and how great LeBron and his line have become. The Nike Air Zoom Generation<\/strong> somehow manages to look modern and classic at the same time, without mirroring any shoe on the market. Ten years later, LeBron holds the number one spot in the NBA and in performance basketball footwear.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Released:<\/strong> 2007<\/p>\n Redefining the lines of modern skateboarding, the Supra Skytop<\/strong> brought hightops back to the board and back to the market place. Skinny and striking, the shoe\u2019s were unlike anything before and inspired many after. The Muska model became a mainstay for years to come, spawning a line and giving hope to all underdog footwear brands.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Released:<\/strong> 2008<\/p>\n The Nike Lunaracer<\/strong> series is not that of the annual Air Max line. Never the less, the original installment is a new classic. Like other shoes that have gained classic status, the model performed well in new colorways within five years of its original release. Like the Air Max 1, this shoe provided a clean platform for the launch of Nike\u2019s newest tech.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Released:<\/strong> 2008<\/p>\n \u201cCollaboration\u201d became a buzzword in the sneaker realm over the last ten years, but rarely did it involve the creation of a new silo. The Jeremy Scott x adidas Wings<\/strong> changed the game and raised the bar, flying into the ranks of high fashion footwear more gracefully than any sportswear substitute since. The silly shoes look awfully smart in hindsight, firmly planting themselves in the market years before luxury labels and designer names retook charge in hip-hop and street fashion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Released:<\/strong> 2009<\/p>\n How does a shoe stay cool for three years straight and not get tired in countless colorways? The design is just that good. Relying on the old school ethos that dominate the modern skate scene but not being limited to such technology, the Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski<\/strong> has cemented itself among the brand\u2019s best. Drawing from boat shoe styling made an instant splash on the skate scene and also proved that crossover inspiration could lead to crossover wear.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Released:<\/strong> 2009<\/p>\n Air Max cushioning may have been born in 1987, but it came back in a big way in 2009. While the tech had more or less run its course in basketball with its use on takedown models and the advent of Zoom Air, the cushioning made huge strides on the Nike Air Max 2009<\/strong>. Using a full-length visible Air system, the Air Max 2009 was incredibly comfortable and aggressive in design. Its popularity boosted the demand for the cushioning and raised perceived value and thus price points. Thank the Air Max 2009 (and Air Max LeBron VII) for the return of the tech and also $160+ retail rates.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Released:<\/strong> 2009<\/p>\n Creating a new category, Kanye West defined \u201cperformer footwear\u201d in 2008 when he debuted the Nike Air Yeezy<\/strong> at the Grammys. Donned and designed by Mr. West, the shoe took more than a year to launch after its unveiling, building a buzz somewhat similar to the original Air Jordan 11. Whether or not Yeezy jumped over the Jumpman in the past decade is up for debate. The fact that it\u2019s up for debate puts Kanye and his first signature in a category all their own.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Released:<\/strong> 2010<\/p>\n A few signature basketball shoes garnered casual crossover after Michael Jordan\u2019s final retirement, but none saw lineups. The Nike LeBron 8<\/strong> reintroduced duality to the performance basketball sector, proving the top technical product could compete with retro models in popularity and off court wearability. Taking to LeBron\u2019s new team, the \u201cSouth Beach\u201d colorway opened the doors for the LeBron line we see today and paved the way for \u201cNerf\u201d KDs and many more to come. \u00a0Odds are, you are still on the hunt for the South Beach LeBrons.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Released:<\/strong> 2011<\/p>\n The Nike Free Run 2<\/strong> managed just the right balance of aggressiveness and grace to appeal to both male and female wearers. Such style served as a re-launching pad for the technology that debuted back in 2004, with consumers using the flexible footwear for casual and athletic activity. The upper took well to color and was even adapted for the following year\u2019s Air Max model, while Free cushioning jumped to the forefront of Nike footwear.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Released:<\/strong> 2012<\/p>\n Breaking the mold more than breaking track records, the Nike Flyknit<\/strong> series has a chance to change the way shoes are constructed. While the price of leather rises and much of the market outgrows synthetic sneakers, the Flyknit and its contemporaries have the ability to play to performance, innovation, and quality. Such a combination provides a chance to corner consumers that are both high tech and high taste.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This seems like an obvious pick with all the Jordan comparisons, but it\u2019s pretty remarkable how good this shoe looks ten years later and how great LeBron and his line has become. The Air Zoom Generation somehow manages to look modern and classic at the same time, without mirroring any shoe on the market. All of that makes it a new classic.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Nike Lunaracer series is not that of the annual Air Max line. Never the less, the original installment is a new classic. Like other shoes that have gained classic status, the model performed well in new colorways within five years of its launch. Like the Air Max 1, this shoe provided a clean platform for Nike\u2019s newest tech.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you played team basketball in the last decade, then you played in the adidas Pro Model at some point. The shoe may serve as the longest lasting and best revamp in performance hoops history, lending itself well to modern play and staying relevant with patent leather styling. While signature shoes tend to reign supreme, this is the team shoe of the new era.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How does a shoe stay cool for three years straight and not get tired in countless colorways? The design is just good. Relying on the old school ethos that dominate the modern skate scene but not being limited to such technology, the Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski has cemented itself among the brand\u2019s best. Drawing from boat shoe styling made an instant splash on the skate scene and also proved that crossover inspiration could lead to crossover wear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2415,"featured_media":132746,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[618],"tags":[1225537],"cultivate_rss":[],"class_list":{"2":"type-post"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSupra Skytop<\/h2>\n
Nike Lunaracer<\/h2>\n image via aecids Flickr\n
Jeremy Scott x adidas Wings<\/h2>\n
Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski<\/h2>\n
Nike Air Max 2009<\/h2>\n
Nike Air Yeezy<\/h2>\n
Nike LeBron 8<\/h2>\n
Nike Free Run 2<\/h2>\n
Nike Flyknit Trainer<\/h2>\n
Nike Air Zoom Generation<\/h2>\n
Nike Lunarracer<\/h2>\n
adidas Pro Model 2G<\/h2>\n
Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski<\/h2>\n