PAUSE Picks: Top Sneaker Releases of the Week

It’s simple, it’s effective, it’s Pharrell x Adidas Humanrace. Uniting for yet another colourful Samba, the duo that never rests is back as the two join forces for a multicoloured pack of sneaker goodness, putting forward this “Glory Red/Alumina” iteration. With red adidas Three Stripes and heels, stitched stripe linings, a signature suede toe box, and a tonal gum sole, this is a pair that looks to go about its business quietly (and in style).

Name two heritage brands that go as well together as these two do. Carhartt WIP x Converse is a tale as old as time, with the two reuniting for another selection of high and low top essentials. The new Chuck Taylor Pro High “Starfish/Dark Earth” sounds more dramatic than it actually is, with a clean white midsole adding a more modern touch to the tonal browns and Carhartt WIP beiges, as well as matching up with the split white quarter. Final touches of Carhartt WIP labelling and Converse insignia clearly label this pair as a collaboration, and one of significant note at that.

Keeping things in a vintage realm, PUMA continue their hot streak with another reintroduction of a classic, debuting a selection of reimagined OG Easy Riders. Originally unveiled back in the 1970s, the Easy Rider was later adopted by football casuals, becoming embedded in the rich footwear culture of the average football fan, and come 2024, it’s back with a bang. The heritage silhouette is composed out of fine mesh and suede and has been taken straight from the PUMA archives and placed directly into the spotlight, with a road-ready “Archive Green” standing out amongst the trio of new colourways.

A high-fashion moment moves into the number four spot as Versace roll out their new Mercury Trainer. An all-black entry leads the way as Versace look to the future with a forward-thinking perforated design, with the pair being set on a lightweight, shock-absorber Greca rubber and EVA sole, boasting a hand-knotted rope construction, as well as utilising a dynamic screen-printed Mercury lettering footbed, a foil Versace logo on the tongue, and a jacquard Greca ribbon pull tab.

Last but certainly not least, the Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 1000 steals the show this week as a blast from the past comes storming in as one of New Balance’s most prized silhouettes. The old-school pair has been give the green light over the past few months, with a plethora of drops having placed the 1000 silhouette at the forefront, and now Aimé Leon Dore has joined the party. A sleek grey iteration proves to be the favourite, making for a sleek and easy-to-wear rotational option.