PAUSE Picks: Top Sneaker Releases of the Week

Sebago’s Classic Dan Leather Loafer is a no-brainer for SS26, and this signature “Garnet” iteration can do no wrong. The rich leather entry adds to Sebago’s long line of loafers, with smooth corrected grain leather combining with an unlined upper, leather sock-lining and waterproof, flexible and durable leather soles to create a timeless silhouette that goes the distance. Easy cop for the summer.

Okay, we hear you: the flip-flop is divisive. Whether you love them or hate them, Havaianas is always going to be at the forefront, pushing the boundaries of what the beach-ready silhouette can be. Doing that in style – and in tandem with the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2 – Havaianas just dropped this all-red Puffed Up flip-flop and we’re a bit obsessed. Certain that Miranda Priestley would approve, the new release features a lighter weight with a streamlined padded straps for a softer puffed-up profile as well as signature havaianas branding, adding a subtler finish. Groundbreaking… no really.

If we’re being honest, Balenciaga went crazy with these Basketball Sneakers. In a world where Demna’s Balenciaga footwear is a thing of the past, it’s good to see the legacy live on with Pierpaolo Piccioli. Who’s hooping in these first then?

The HOMECOMING x Nike TN Air Max Plus arrives in this one-of-one “African Sunrise” colourway and it’s put us back on the TN wave. Designed by Grace Ladoja MBE, who happens to be the first African woman to design a Nike sneaker, the HOMECOMING x Nike TN Air Max Plus celebrates the iconic Lagos festival with a multifaceted design palette, indulging in the rich shades of orange that permeate the African sunset, whilst detachable charms associated to Africa’s extensive cultural history arrive in the form of a cowrie shell, a Nigerian map, an eagle, and a gold Africa emblem. Nigeria to the world!

Kickers did its big one with this new drop. Welcome, the Kickers Hi Central Seam: a reimagined take on a classic. Staying close to its original form, the new silhouette remains unmistakably Kickers, with the leathery high-tops being reinterpreted with a striking raised central stitch that runs along the front of the shoe, moving away from the originally smooth upper. Thick cotton laces align with a premium leather finish and classic Kickers design DNA – including that iconic Kickers red tab – for this standout “Black” version.