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Nick DePaula // Creative Director
10. Nike Zoom Penny VI “Memphis”
These carried over the “Penny Pack” 1 colorway that I did in 2011, closing out an amazing chapter of NSW Penny products that I chipped in on over the years with Marc Dolce.
9. Gucci Slide aka Flip Flops “Black”
photo via Saks
8. Under Armour Curry One “MVP”
Before joining the Nice Kicks team, I worked a bit on the Curry One launch as a consultant with a great team of people at UA, and pushed hard to introduce the name “Charged Cushioning” as the shoe’s tech platform. To that point, UA Basketball had incorporated “Micro G” foam in all of their shoes. Steph went on to have one of the all-time great seasons in his first signature model, and it couldn’t have happened for a better dude. Just a surreal run.
7. adidas Ultra Boost Black/Purple-White
Amazing comfort. Gamechanger for adidas Running. In terms of actual new shoes that released in 2015, these are right at the very top.
6. Lanvin Cap Toe Low Black/White
photo via Soletopia
Cap Toes will be on my Top 10 list every year they release in — forever. Just an incredibly constructed sneaker with a timeless toe cap that’s practically crease and scuff proof.
5. adidas Stan Smith Primeknit Purple/White
I love purple. I love comfort. These Primeknit Stans were an easy pick, and a summer favorite.
4. Air Jordan 1 Low Black/Royal
I didn’t get my first pair of Jordans until 2001 when the Royal 1s dropped. I just might like these Lows more, and had to pick them up when they dropped late this year.
3. Nike Zoom Flight 95 Retro Black/Carbon-White
Any year the Zoom Flight 95 re-releases is a great year — since it’s the greatest shoe of all time.
2. adidas Yeezy Boost 350 “Turtle Dove”
I also wore the Turtle Dove 350s a ton. Awesome comfort, and awesome partnership. It was pretty cool to see all the ways in which Kanye and adidas teamed up this year for a polarizing batch of launches that were all but impossible to actually get your hands on. More than anything, I think the 350 is a great shoe that was timely for the year.
1. adidas Y-3 Qasa II Low Black/White
2015 was a great year for the adidas brand, and if you’ve been following the Y-3 sub-brand through its decade-plus long run, we once again saw even more great models release from the Yohji Yamamoto led design group.
The Qasa II Low, a slip-on adaptation of the hugely popular neoprene and elastic-based Qasa High, set a new bar for pure comfort, wearability and versatility. I got my pair in late February of this year, and have worn them for around three days per week ever since. My pair looks like complete hell by now, but they’re still my go-to sneakers when I’m on the run for errands or traveling around. It’s the perfect airport shoe. It’s the perfect wearing shoe.
The mix of materials and depth of textures are awesome, and it’s a quick and easy silhouette that blends in with any outfit. Aurelien Longo, the model’s designer, absolutely crushed it, and I’m already on the hunt for another pair to wear all of 2016.
Our EIC George Kiel III is out on daddy duty taking care of his newborn daughter. Make sure you wish him well and thanks for all your support of Nice Kicks in 2015!
