The year 2023 is coming to a close and what a year it was. The past few months have seen a slew of sneakers released, collaborations made and silhouettes introduced. From Travis Scott's designs to Action Bronson's debut releases at New Balance - there are a few designers and artists in particular that shaped the year.
Check out the most influential people in sneaker culture in 2023 here.
Clint419
It was an eventful year for Cortiez founder Clint. The British designer had another lawsuit pending with Nike in 2021 but seemed to make up for it in 2023 with no less than three unique colorways of the Nike Air Max 95 "Rules The World.
The Corteiz brand has become very popular in a short time and for good reason. The designs are modern and the campaigns surrounding the releases are even more impressive than the collections themselves. In 2024, Clint looks to build on last year's success and a Corteiz x Supreme collaboration awaits us.
Grace Wales Bonner
The adidas Samba OG was arguably the sneaker of 2023. The classic silhouette made a comeback more than 70 years after its original release and did so in part with a collaboration with Grace Wales Bonner. The British Jamaican fashion designer founded the eponymous clothing brand in 2014 and achieved instant success.
The classic designs caught on and were noticed by adidas. In 2023, several colorways of the adidas Samba OG appeared that we think are among the best releases of the year.
Rihanna
The year 2023 was also the year Rihanna made her comeback in the music and fashion world. The singer performed at the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show at the beginning of the year. During her first performance in years, she was seen wearing the Maison Margiela x Salomon MM6 Cross Hike 'Fiery Red', a sneaker that immediately attracted a lot of attention.
But their own FENTY collection at PUMA was also a big success this year. The duo had been working together since 2014, but seemed to be on a break. In early 2023, the first FENTY Avanti sneaker was released, followed by the recently released FENTY x PUMA Creeper Phatty. Riri still seems to be a benchmark person in fashion, and you won't hear us complain.
Travis Scott
Another artist not to be missed this year is Travis Scott. After dropping his highly anticipated album “Utopia” last summer, the rapper came out with one release after another. The artist has been working with Nike since 2018, and over five years later, this collaboration still seems to be very fruitful for both of them.
After several Air Jordan 1 Low colorways, the artist teamed up with former tennis player John McEnroe to bring back the Nike Mac Attack silhouette. A classic sneaker with a rich history. We also saw some images of possible Travis' own silhouettes in 2023 that we can expect in the coming months.
Martine Rose
British designer Martine Rose should not be missing from this list. The menswear designer founded the eponymous label in 2007 and focused mainly on designing, oddly enough, women's clothing. Her designs can be recognized by their retro look, inspired by 90s subcultures, out of thousands.
In 2023, Martine Rose first focused her label on designing collections for men. In eye-catching runways and outspoken campaigns, Rose showcased her new designs, including the Nike Shox MR4 - a high-profile sneaker that resonated with many.
She also designed merch for rap duo The Hillbillies, consisting of Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem. A successful year for the British designer so to say!
Salehe Bembury
American designer Salehe Bemburt has been a well-known name in sneaker culture for years but had an extra special year in 2023. Bembury has worked in the past for names such as Versace, Kanye West, and New Balance, but it was particularly the collab with Crocs that brought him much name recognition. In 2023, Bembury was appointed Creative Director of his own Crocs line.
This line seems to be built around the well-known Crocs Pollex Pod. Last year, this unique design gained many colorways and the designer came out with a new variant of the Clog. Bembury also worked again with New Balance, joined forces with Moncler, and appeared on the covers of Patta's and Sneaker Freaker's magazines. In early 2024, the designer will come out with his own New Balance 1906R collab - a sneaker to look forward to.
Action Bronson
Rapper and host of own cooking series 'F*CK THAT'S DELICIOUS' Action Bronson collaborated with New Balance for the first time in 2023. In 2023, the artist came out with two colorways of the New Balance 990v6; the 'Baklava' and the 'Lapis Lazuli'. The sneakers did well and led to another collaboration between the two names. So in 2024, we can expect a 1906R collab called 'Rosewater'.
He also appeared at NPR Tiny Desk where he gave an acoustic performance and traveled the world for the best food at the best restaurants. With his charismatic character, fast flows, and colorful designs, he has made his name in the music and sneaker scene.
Samuel Pearce
Finally, we have Samuel Pearce. In case the name doesn't mean much to you, the designs are probably all too familiar to you. Pearce is responsible for the successful New Balance "Made in UK" series. He collaborated on the recent collab with JJJJound, which incidentally also deserves a spot in the list of the most successful names in 2023, and designed the 991v2 silhouette used in the Stone Island and Patta collabs.
Pearce's timeless and innovative designs are selling like hotcakes, and we understand why. Looking at past designs, we can certainly expect more good things from the New Balance designer in 2024.
The year 2023 was an eventful one in sneaker culture. If anyone is missing from this list, which is most likely the case, let us know via the Sneakerjagers Instagram account (@sneakerjagers).
Don't forget to tune in to the Grote Tim & Tom Sneaker Show this weekend where the year 2023 will be discussed at length.