IN LONDON, AN EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO RARE SNEAKERS

"Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street,” an exhibition dedicated to rare sneakers, is a high-profile testimony of how star kicks, edgy reissues and buzzy collaborations have turned the sneaker scene into a booming, market inflated by hype. The showcase, curated by Ligaya Salazar and housed inside London’s Design Museum, is sponsored by StockX, which played a key role in sourcing some of the rarest pairs. The underlying idea is to show the impact that the sneaker culture has had on fashion, luxury, and art, offering plenty of insight on the category’s innovation and drive to be more sustainable. The top picks include three sneakers that made cultural ripples and a financial impact on the market - the Jordan 1 Retro High Dior; the women’s Jordan 4 Retro Off-White Sail, and the Yeezy 350 Zebra, the most-exchanged of all time. Other strictly limited and highly recognizable runs for sneakerheads are Bape Sta x Kaws, Nike SB x Supreme Dunk Low “Black Cement,” and Nike x Clot Air Max 1 “Kiss of Death.” Plus, sneaker collabs with designers such as Versace, Craig Green, Sacai, A-Cold-Wall, Balenciaga, Vetements, Undercover, Yohji Yamamoto, and Junya Watanabe. On the sports front, the highlights include the Reebok Shaq Attaq “Orlando,” signed by basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, who first wore the exclusive style in 1993 and a pair of Nike Kobe 10 Elite “Opening Night,” signed by the late Los Angeles Lakers legend.