Stüssy is arguably the OG streetwear brand; Nike is the world’s biggest sportswear brand. Together, they’re an unstoppable force that has given us some of the most coveted sneaker releases of all time.
In 2020 alone, Stüssy x Nike has given us three high-profile sneaker collaborations, all of which have gone on to sell out almost immediately. The first Stüssy x Nike collaboration came 20 years ago and has gone on to set the tone for how streetwear labels and sportswear brands work together. Stüssy x Nike was quite literally the birth of the sneaker collaboration when Nike’s Fraser Cooke and Stüssy’s Michael Kopelman decided to team up at the turn of the millennium.
Fast forward 20 years of Stüssy x Nike, and with last weekend’s release of the Stüssy x Nike Air Force 1 still fresh in our minds, we take a look at some of the most coveted Stüssy x Nike kicks released so far and their significance in sneaker culture.
Stüssy x Nike Air Huarache LE
Release Date: 2000 Buy: GOAT Editor’s Notes: This first pair is technically not a Stüssy x Nike collaboration, but rather the aforementioned Michael Kopelman x Nike link up. Still, it was released exclusively at Stüssy’s London Chapter store and therefore counts as the one before the first.
Stüssy x Nike Dunk High
Release Date: 2001 Buy: GOAT Editor’s Notes: As the Nike Dunk was just beginning to blow up in the early ’00s, Nike reached out to Stüssy to collaborate on two Dunk Highs, marking the first time Nike collaborated with a clothing company. Historic.
Stüssy x Nike Huarache Light
Release Date: 2003 Buy: StockX, GOAT Editor’s Notes: In 2003, Stüssy and Nike celebrated the Huarache Light’s 10th anniversary with the release of two zesty colorways. Soon after, the uber-comfortable trainer became ubiquitous once again — a testament to the collaboration’s immense influence. This collaboration also marked the first time Nike put another brand’s logo on its shoes.
Stüssy x Nike SB Dunk Low “Cherry”
Release Date: 2005 Buy: StockX, GOAT Editor’s Notes: No sneaker satisfies our sartorial sweet tooth more than the Stüssy x Nike SB Dunk Low “Cherry.” Released in 2005 as part of Nike’s “Team Manager” series, the sneaker is inspired by the colors of Neapolitan ice cream and is one of the most expensive Dunks on the resell market.
Stüssy x Nike World Tour Collection
Release Date: 2006 Buy: GOAT, StockX Editor’s Notes: The 2006 World Tour collection consists of two Trainer Dunk Lows, three Free Trial 5.0s, and four Dunk Highs — in sum, there's something for everyone. Our favorite? It’s got to be the Tokyo-inspired Dunk High: a monochrome high-top sneaker embossed with Stüssy’s trademark scribble pattern.
Stüssy x Nike x Neighborhood “Boneyards” Blazer
Release Date: 2008 Buy: StockX, GOAT Editor’s Notes: This three-way collaboration between Japan’s Neighborhood, Stüssy, and Nike resulted in a trio of “Boneyards” Blazers. The pack perfectly encapsulated the edgy vibe of the late ’00s, something we’d be more than happy to see make a return.
Stüssy x Nike All Court Mid “XXX”
Release Date: 2010 Buy: Farfetch, GOAT Editor’s Notes: This trio of Nike All Court Mids were decorated with Stüssy branding, snakeskin prints, and colored eyelets. The name of the project is actually a tribute to Stüssy’s 30th anniversary (XXX equals 30 in Roman numerals).
Stüssy x Nike Sky Force ’88 Mid
Release Date: 2011 Buy: StockX, GOAT Editor’s Notes: In 2011, camouflage and the military aesthetic were all the rage (check Vogue Runway if you don’t believe us). Accordingly, Stüssy designed a set of Action Man-esque Sky Force ’88 Mids, enriched with camo prints, utilitarian materials, and rope laces.
Stüssy x Nike S&S Collection
Release Date: 2012 Buy: GOAT, StockX Editor’s Notes: The S&S collection was the most divisive drop of the ongoing partnership when it was released. It comprised winterized versions of the Dunk High, a lightweight Lunar Braata Mid OMS, and a sturdy Mogan II OMS.
Stüssy x Nike Air Max 95
Release Date: 2015 Buy: StockX, GOAT Editor’s Notes: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sergio Lozano’s brainchild, the Air Max 95, and Stüssy’s own 35th anniversary, three special Air Max 95s were released in 2015. The trio of kicks features suede and nylon uppers and subtle branding on the tongue and insole. In a nod to the original 2000 Huarache collab, the tongues of all three AM95s were constructed of neoprene.
Stüssy x Nike SB Blazer Mid and Low
Release Date: 2018 Buy: StockX, GOAT Editor’s Notes: Stüssy paid homage to the skateboarding community by reworking a Nike SB Blazer Mid and Nike SB Blazer Low. The former came packaged with a leopard-print stencil, encouraging customers to customize their sneakers. The low-top was dressed in a black and green color scheme, redolent of the gritty aesthetic of urban skate parks.
Stüssy x Nike Zoom Spiridon Caged 2
Release Date: 2020 Buy: Stadium Goods, StockX, GOAT Editor’s Notes: Earlier this year, Stüssy and Nike brought back the Steven Smith-designed Zoom Spiridon Caged 2 — a Zoom Air runner that fell under the radar when it was first released in the early ’00s. Stüssy’s decision to use hemp materials on one of the two colorways was a stroke of genius, as the shoe must have been the most-posted sneaker on Instagram for weeks.
Stüssy x Nike Air Force 1
Release Date: 2020 Buy: StockX, GOAT Editor’s Notes: Both colorways are constructed with hemp and embroidered with both brands’ logos. With this collaboration, Stüssy finishes off a strong 2020 with a clean take on one of the most iconic silhouettes of all time.
