Stadium Goods: Trophy Case Exhibition

Presenting the all-star line up from the coveted Trophy Case exhibition.

Stadium Goods have collaborated with Browns and have given us an access all areas pass to a selection of some of the rarest and most highly sought after sneakers to have dropped over the years.

Known for creating more hype than a kid at Disneyland, these Trophy Case sneakers come in limited numbers, have caused queues around the block and sold out in a matter of minutes and you will have the opportunity to see them IRL in a one-off display exhibition at Browns East.

With sneaker fans across the globe willing to part with a serious amount of cash to get their hands on a pair, what is it that makes these sneakers so wanted? Whether it’s a collaboration between a sportswear giant and an iconic luxury brand, or with a chart-topping rapper or a re-launch of an archive piece, these sneakers all have an incredible story to tell.

Launched in November 2017, the special edition adidas X Pharrell Williams CC HU NMD was created as part of a Chanel pop-up within the Parisian retailer Colette, just before it closed its doors. Only available in very limited numbers, this NMD ‘Human Race’ sneaker features the classic Chanel monochromatic colourway with ‘CHANEL’ and ‘PHARRELL’ branding down the front of each shoe. With the signature lace cage across the top, the sneaker is finished with adidas’ infamous Boost midsole.

The final sneaker from Kanye West’s partnership with Nike was a release that came as a surprise due to Yeezy cutting ties with the brand. Highly sought after because of its bold all red colourway, the sneaker was first revealed to fans during Kayne’s performance on Saturday Night Live in 2013.  Sparking a huge demand for red drench colourways, the Air Yeezy 2 ‘Red October’ launched in February 2014 with no prior warning, selling out before most people realised they even existed.

Made to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Shady Records, this three-way collaboration launched in November 2015. Only ten pairs were made in total and only available through an auction, in which all proceeds went to the Marshall Mathers Foundation. Featuring a classic Carhartt black twill upper, this minimal sneaker includes a hockey mask and ‘E’ detailing on the heel tabs.

Released in September 2002, the Nike Dunk LW Pro SB ‘Supreme’ was the first Nike sneaker to take the ‘elephant skin’ nubuck that only featured on the Air Jordan 3. Back when Supreme had only two stores in New York and Tokyo, only 500 pairs were made. One of the most sought after sneakers from Nike SB, they were made to be skated in, leaving them to fall under the radar from the usual sneakerhead crowd.

Designed by Nathan Van Hook and released in June 2012, this Nike Air Yeezy 2 is one of the key colourways from this short collaboration. Released along with the ‘Black/Solar Red’ colourway, this sneaker features a tonal grey upper with snakeskin texture detailing and a moulded rubber heel unit. Taking inspiration from three archive Nike silhouettes, the Air Trainer 1, Air Foamposite One and Air Tech Challenge, this hybrid sneaker bridged the gap between music, fashion and sport.

Released in 2012 alongside five additional colourways, the Nike Lunar Flyknit HTM NRG was named by Complex as the number one sneaker of the year. HTM stands for Hiroshi, Tinker and Mark, which brought together Nike’s CEO Mark Parker, Japanese designer Hiroshi Fujiwara and in-house Nike design icon, Tinker Hatfield. Working over 10 years in collaboration to push Nike’s portfolio to its maximum potential, the sneaker presented Nike’s Flyknit technology for the first time.

To coincide with Art Basel Miami Beach, Nike released a collection of Art Basel exclusive sneakers and with it came the Air Jordan 1 Retro OG NRG ‘Igloo’ colourway. Reflective of the pastel tones associated with South Beach, this Air Jordan 1 was released in 2017 and available exclusively in Miami at selected retailers. Taking inspiration from the city’s Art Deco heritage, the colourway contrasts the Jordan 1’s black toe detail with a pastel green on the heel and outsole.

Just like his friend, Kanye West, Virgil Abloh from Off-White has firmly made his mark on the sneaker scene with a standout collaboration with Nike. Releasing his second foray into Air Jordan territory with a deconstructed Air Jordan 1 in March 2018, the sneaker debuted at the Off-White FW18 show in Paris. This ironic ‘off-white’ model was rarer than its predecessor, the ‘Chicago’ colourway and was the first of the Off-White collaboration sneakers to feature the pale blue cable tie tag.

After being unveiled at Paris Fashion Week in January 2017, the hotly anticipated Supreme X Louis Vuitton capsule collection created quite the stir amongst streetwear aficionados. Using the combination of Supreme’s iconic red shade next to Louis Vuitton’s monogram, the partnership had cemented the growing amalgamation of sportswear and luxury fashion. Part of the 55-piece collection, the minimal Sport sneaker features a clean silhouette in premium white leather, with red monogram panel to the side and a gum outsole.

Pitched as the trainer that ‘money can’t buy,’ the adidas NMD R1 ‘Pitch Black’ was released in 2016 as an extremely limited edition of just 500 pairs, available exclusively to friends and family of adidas. Presented in an all-black colourway they feature an uncaged Primeknit upper, Boost midsole and an identifying ‘1/500’ numbering on the heel pull tab, further marking their exclusivity.

Released in 2018, Pharrell Williams took inspiration from Chinese culture when designing these white and gold NMD’s as part of a four-colourway set. Limited to just 300 pairs, they were given out exclusively to friends and family of adidas. Using the concept of Yin and Yang, each sneaker symbolised one of the four natural elements, with the gold representing metal. Featuring a gold flecks in the white mesh upper, the HU Holi NMD has the Chinese symbol for Metal down the left shoe and Happy written on the right, completing the metallic masterpiece with shiny gold overlays and flecks in the translucent outsole.

Part of Nike and Virgil Abloh’s ‘The Ten’ collection, the Nike X Off-White Zoom Fly SP is the boldest sneaker from the collaboration so far. Released in November 2018, this lightweight sneaker is a rework of this classic runner silhouette and features a translucent TPU ‘Tulip Pink’ upper. Sitting on a neon pink midsole, it boasts Virgil’s statement branding of the word ‘FOAM’ along with Off-White’s signature verbiage on the upper’s inner side.

Marking the beginning of Kanye West’s partnership with adidas, the Yeezy Boost 750 was released on Valentine’s Day, 2015. The deconstructed boot-style silhouette was the start of Kanye’s iconic casual aesthetic, using a variety of earthy tones. Released in very limited quantities, this OG sneaker features a grey soft suede upper with a hiking-style rope lace system, wide mid-foot strap and the first iteration of what has become an iconic oversized Boost midsole.

Collaborating for the first time since 2005, Nike reunited with famed Dutch artist Piet Parra to create the Air Max 1 Parra. Using his key colour palette of white, grey, pink, red and blue, this abstract Air Max 1 takes its inspiration from the Dutch countryside and pop culture. Launched in July 2018 in extremely limited numbers, it is one of the most unique Air Max designs to date and hailed as a staple amongst collectors.

A collaboration between LA-based streetwear retailer Union and Air Jordan, this limited edition Air Jordan 1 Retro were an homage to the late 80s/early 90s. Released in November 2018 they took two Air Jordan 1 OG colourways and literally stitched them together. This vintage style sneaker features the infamous ‘Black Toe’, exposed padding, distressed leather uppers and yellowed midsole, bringing a unique take on an all-time classic.

Released as a tribute to Michael Jordan’s college career at the University of North Carolina, this Air Jordan 1 OG Retro features the college’s classic Carolina blue colourway with navy and white details in glossy patent leather. Launched as a women’s only release at the start of the All-Star Weekend 2019, they mark the point where Jordan truly earned his wings when he won ACC Player of the Year in 1984.

Launched as part of the ‘Queen’ collection in 2018 and in celebration of the tennis legend Serena Williams, this Nike X Off-White Air Max 97 OG was exclusively available only in New York. Released in limited numbers and as part of Virgil Abloh’s ‘The Ten’, the colourway represents Serena’s bold style and dominance on the court with a gradient sole unit that goes from pink to purple to gold.

With ‘AWOK’ standing for ‘Anna Wintour OK’, this Air Jordan 3 Retro was the first ever collaboration between Air Jordan and Vogue magazine. One of the most important Jordan 3 releases of all time, this women’s Jordan took inspiration from Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief and her well documented love of a tweed/bouclé suit and a pair of oversized black sunglasses. Launched as a September issue in 2018, it features a red tweed fabric upper, black detailing and Anna Wintour’s signature on the heel, replacing the classic logos.

Words by Alexandra Oliver