From their early start working on a sneaker that was inspired by the Air Jordan III to making their collaborations release almost yearly like clockwork, Nike and Supreme have shaped our understanding of what it means to be a sneakerhead and how far someone will go to get a pair of sneakers. We're about to take you on a journey through their work the past 15-plus years. So grab your all-over print hoodies and photo T-shirts—here's A History of Supreme's Nike Collaborations.
From their early start working on a sneaker that was inspired by the Air Jordan III to making their collaborations release almost yearly like clockwork, Nike and Supreme have shaped our understanding of what it means to be a sneakerhead and how far someone will go to get a pair of sneakers. We're about to take you on a journey through their work the past 15-plus years. So grab your all-over print hoodies and photo T-shirts—here's A History of Supreme's Nike Collaborations.
Dunk Low Pro SB
Year released: 2002
This is the sneaker that started it all: Supreme's take on the Air Jordan III. It's hard to believe that when released, this sneaker didn't cause mass hysteria, but those were simpler times, and you had to be in the know to get these. You're more likely to see someone with a completely beat to death pair of the first Supreme x Nike released than a crispy pair, and it's likely the sneaker has changed hands several times. If only these shoes could talk.
Dunk High Pro SB
Year released: 2003
If you try to paint an ideal image of a Hypebeast in the mid-2000s, he had a pair of Nike x Supreme Dunk His on. And he probably had a few pairs on ice. These sneakers fetched crazy money on the re-sale market, and made people believe that if you had a pair, you were rich and your folks bought them. Or you simply flipped every pair of kicks you had in a trade.
The stars on the side would be an image that would be forever be linked with Supreme and Nike SB. It's no surprise that dudes like Trinidad James are still wearing these today.
Delta Force 3/4 SB
Year released: 2004
Perhaps the most slept-on Supreme x Nike sneaker, the Delta Force had a very short lifespan as a Nike SB. The Supreme version was a 3/4 model and perfect for skating with its bulky padding but sleek design. Three colors, all with gum soles and 3M tongues.
If you were lucky, there were still pairs of these floating around two or three years later on websites such as PickYourShoes, and you scored your pair hassle-free. And for the record, the gum sole was fire.
Nike Blazer SB
Year released: 2006
This is one of the sneakers responsible for sparking the high-end fashion interest amongst sneakerheads. The Supreme x Nike Blazer played straight off Gucci, with a red and green tab on the heel with a gold-plated loop. The sneakers also had quilted leather uppers and had a faux-snakeskin Swoosh.
As you can probably guess, if you didn't get a pair of these at retail, you were paying over half a stack. Oddly enough, there were actually B-grades of these floating around on NikeTalk at the time, too.
Trainer TW 2 SB
Year released: 2007
The Trainer TW II was a new move for Supreme and Nike, it proved that they could make non-skate shoes, and they would still sell out. We know, technically none of the previously-released models were originally designed for skateboarding (and these were technically an SB), but the Trainer TW II was made for people to lift weights in and go to the gym.
Every once in a while, you still see people wearing these sneakers, but it tends to be a rare occasion.
Bruin SB
Year released: 2009
Everyone thought this was going to be a release that sneakerheads would lose their minds over. The Bruin was simple like the first couple of Supreme x Nike releases. But, while these sold out, they didn't garner as much hype as prior drops.
The Bruin can be seen as a move away from hype sneakers, and the streetwear-set starting to wear clothes and shoes that could be sported daily, instead of kept on ice and pulled out twice a year.
SB 94
Year released: 2010
Supreme was founded in 1994, and the shop had made its own sneakers before, but the SB 94 was more than just a collaboration with Nike, it was the design of a whole new sneaker.
It was a hi-top that could be skated in, but also looked similar to a pair of Dunks (with Foamposite support, even). Nike and Supreme created something that both parties could be happy with, and was as dual-functional as Supreme's reputation as a skate shop and a lifestyle brand.
SB 94 (Second Release)
Year released: 2011
For the first time, Supreme designed the same pair of Nike sneakers twice. The SB 94 returned the following year, this time with a new inspiration: The boots New Yorkers love to wear.
Both pairs of the 94s looked like Timberland boots this time, and came in buttery suede. Sneakerheads weren't sloshing through the snow in these, though. But these are definitely a hidden gem along the history of Supreme's Nike collaborations.
Dunk Low Pro SB (Second Release)
Year released: 2012
Yup, Supreme brought back the Dunk Low, but this time it featured red accents instead of black or white for the 10-year anniversary of the first release. This time, people were more aware of the release, and sneakerheads clung onto the hope that these would be the new coveted sneaker.
Air Force 1 Low
Release year: 2012
The Nike Air Force 1 is ingrained in New York City's sneaker history. The city also loves hard-wearing, military-inspired clothing. When Supreme and Nike put those two ideas together, along with a gum sole, the result was nothing short of tough.
Also, those worried about their Forces creasing, avoided that situation through the use of canvas on these sneakers. You could literally sport these all the time, and not worry about them getting fucked up.
SB Tennis Classic
Year released: 2013
It's shocking that in this day and age, a Supreme sneaker release would just kind of sit around, but that's what happened with the Tennis Classic.
Yes, they ended up selling out, but if you didn't cop on release date, you could still gets yours even a few weeks later. Even Val Kilmer got himself a pair. But this Supreme x Nike release was essential for someone who wanted sneakers with attention to detail, showed you knew your shit, but weren't attracting too much attention. Well except for the Volt pair.
Flyknit Lunar 1+
Year released: 2013
In 2013, Supreme and Nike took their ongoing collaboration in a new direction: They did a pair of running sneakers. Runners have caught on as menswear and streetwear's new favorite silhouette, and while you can't skate in them, the Flyknit Lunar 1+s are the perfect chilling sneakers in their black and grey color scheme.
As plain as these sneakers are, they have Supreme roaring across the side, which is a nice detail and something different from the previous releases.
Air Foamposite One
Year released: 2014
Perhaps one of Supreme's most unexpected collabs, the Air Foamposite One ushered in a new era of a hype for the brand. Massive crowds formed outside of the NYC store ahead of the drop, forcing Supreme to cancel future in-store launches for its most desired collabs.
Released alongside matching basketball jerseys and shorts, the Foamposites came in two colors and featured a Versace-like graphic.
Air Force 1 High
Year released: 2014
After working on the AF1's low-top iteration, Supreme went high for fall/winter '14 with a three-sneaker set. Premium leathers and bold branding sets these pairs apart, and they've since become one of the brand's most coveted collabs.
SB GTS
Year released: 2015
Nike's "Great Tennis Shoe" from 1993 evolved into a skate staple by the early 2000s, and Supreme paid tribute to the model's street legacy with five colorways including a stonewashed denim style. While it's not the most valuable on the aftermarket, this is one of those if you know, you know collabs.
Air Jordan 5
Year released: 2015
For fall 2015, Supreme reached new heights by collaborating with Jordan Brand on three Air Jordan 5s. White and black colorways paid homage to the model's roots, while a desert camo variation represented the streetwear brand to a T. The collab was packed with details, including Supreme branding on the side netting, icy outsole, and even the lacelocks.
Air Max 98
Year released: 2016
In the spring of 2016, Supreme dropped a left field collab in the form of the Air Max 98, a model which quickly became one of the most popular runners around. With inspiration from Prada's America's Cup sneakers, the range included three patent leather make ups and a fourth snakeskin take.
SB Blazer Low GT
Year released: 2016
During fall '16, Supreme returned to the Blazer, this time opting for the low-cut iteration. The collection came in three colorways and featured gold foil embossing and gum rubber outsoles.
Air More Uptempo
Year released: 2017
Sticking with the same vein as their Air Foamposite collab, Supreme looked to Nike's '90s basketball archives during the spring of 2017 to rework the in-your-face Air More Uptempo. The streetwear brand swapped out the shoe's traditional "AIR" lettering for—what else?—Supreme text which wrapped from the outer to the medial side. A black colorway served as a nod to the OG, while red represented Supreme's signature color, and a third gold iteration filled in as the standout.
SB Air Force 2
Year released: 2017
Supreme kept things low key on 2017's Air Force 2 collab, using minimal (by Supreme's standards) branding and relatively tame colorways.
Air Force 1 Low x Comme des Garçons
Year released: 2017
Supreme's regular collabs with Comme des Garçons SHIRT brought Nike into the fold in 2017 for a unique take on the traditional white-on-white Air Force 1.
Air Humara
Year released: 2017
Fall 2017's Air Humara collab was yet another example of Supreme marching to the beat of its own drum. It reworked the '90s trail shoe with four reflective colorways including three neon styles. To complete the set, Supreme and Nike dropped matching trail running jackets, pants, and hats.
Zoom Streak Spectrum Plus
Year released: 2018
For its second Swoosh collab of the spring/summer '18 season, Supreme delivered two colorways of one of Nike's more obscure runners, 2003's Zoom Spectrum Plus. The flame-printed sneakers dropped in two colorways, with a white style referencing the model's original make up. Branding was minimal, but there wasn't any need to add much to this already-abrasive design.
Air Force 1 Mid x NBA
Year released: 2018
Supreme kicked off 2018 with one of its most polarizing collabs in recent memory: an Air Force 1 covered in NBA team logos as a nod to the jeans and jackets of the 2000s era. While these haven't caught on like Supreme's previous Air Force 1 collabs, it's still early in the game, so it'll be interesting to see how they fare over time.
SB Gato
Year released: 2018
Coming with the unexpected yet again, Supreme took things to the indoor soccer pitch this fall for a reworked take on the Gato. The shoe game in four simple colorways, each of which included colorful accents and gum rubber soles.
Air Force 1 Low x Comme des Garçons
Year released: 2018
Supreme followed up its 2017 Comme des Garçons SHIRT x Air Force 1 with a second collaboration on the model the following year. This black-based colorway is most notable for it's unique split Swoosh design.
Air Max Tailwind 4
Year Released: 2019
Keeping up its streak of unexpected Nike silhouettes to collaborate on, Supreme dropped this duo of Air Max Tailwind 4s in March 2019. The shoes featured speckled uppers, Supreme branding on the tongues, insoles, and heels, and launched alongside matching hats.