A Ma Maniére and Nike’s “For The Love” Collection Brings Appreciation to This Week’s Best Footwear Drops

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Following five straight days of intense basketball games, it’s time for the Sweet 16 round in both the men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments. Before the action resumes on Thursday, we have an enticing series of sneaker launches starting tomorrow, marking Nike’s yearly Air Max Day celebration. Alongside Nike, several other brands like New Balance, PUMA, Clarks, Vans, Saucony, adidas, and Jordan Brand are also participating in these releases this week.

Reflecting on the news from last week, we started the week by highlighting ROMBAUT’s innovative partnership with PUMA for their Levitation line, featuring an interview with founder Mats Rombaut discussing the creation of the campaign, his experience as YEEZY’s footwear chief, and other related topics.

In terms of usual news updates, Nike recently showcased three striking initiatives: the comeback of the Air Max Craze, the ACG Mountain Fly Low GORE-TEX, and three colorways of the new Sense 96 designed by COMME des GARÇONS HOMME PLUS. Additionally, we’ve had a sneak peek at the SB Dunk Low “Krampus” and five exclusive versions of the Air DT Max ’96, courtesy of Deion Sanders. There are also rumors circulating about two Yu-Gi-Oh! x Nike Air Max 95s that might be released later this year, which has sparked enthusiasm among sneaker enthusiasts.

The team behind Jumpman showcased two highly anticipated shoe models for the first time – the UNDEFEATED x Air Jordan 4 and this year’s Air Jordan 3 “Pure Money.” Meanwhile, a sneak peek of the original-based Air Jordan 5 “Fire Red” appeared along with an updated speculation that the Air Jordan 13 “True Red” will be back in 2026 instead of the earlier mentioned “He Got Game” reissue. In other footwear news, Pharrell’s adidas Jellyfish came in a “Triple Black” colorway revealed by Pusha T, while JJJJound introduced its interpretation of Plasticana’s Gardana clog from another brand.

After filling you in on the most recent and outstanding sneaker releases, let’s delve into the top 10 upcoming drops this week, commencing with Air Max Day launches. Be sure to check out HBX for immediate access to these stylish options once you’ve finished reviewing the list.

.SWOOSH x Nike Air Max 1 Low Poly “Big Head Origins”

Launch Date: March 26
Launch Price: $160 USD
Where to Purchase: SNKRS
Reason to Buy: Nike’s web3-oriented .SWOOSH platform brings another gaming-inspired twist to the Air Max 1, expanding the Air Max 1 Low Poly series. This “Big Head Origins” edition of the shoe is a tribute to Donkey Kong, with its brown, red, and yellow design featuring suede overlays resembling hair. The sneaker also showcases unique branding details and a themed sockliner as .SWOOSH honors Air Max Day in an exciting manner.

Ducks of a Feather x Nike Air Max 95/97 “Storm”

Launch Date: March 26
Launch Price: $250 USD
Where to Acquire: GOAT
Why You Should Consider Purchasing: Although the University of Oregon’s men’s and women’s basketball teams have been eliminated from March Madness, there is still much to look forward to for Duck fans as the unveiling of Ducks of a Feather’s new Nike project, the Air Max 95/97 “Storm,” continues with its global launch. This latest sneaker combines the cushioning technology of the popular Air Max 95 with the layered upper design of the Air Max 97. The shoe is adorned in a color-shifting green and gold, with subtle branding elements paying homage to the university.

Stone Island x New Balance Made in USA 998

I’m Excited to Share: On March 27, I’ll be grabbing a pair of shoes from Stone Island for $285 USD! They’ve teamed up with New Balance again, and this time they’ve revamped the Made in USA line’s 998 sneaker. The upper of the shoe now features Stone Island’s Raso Gommato fabric, a unique satin weave cotton that’s been polyurethane-coated. Plus, the iconic Stone Island badge logo is proudly displayed on the tongue tag. Can’t wait to cop these!

A$AP Rocky x PUMA Mostro Disccord

Launch Date: March 27th
Launch Cost: $200 USD
Where to Purchase: PUMA
Why You Shouldn’t Miss Out: Starting from late 2023, A$AP Rocky has been invigorating the German sportswear brand PUMA. His collaborations, spanning various footwear styles, perfectly blend his unique style with PUMA’s core identity. The latest addition to their joint efforts is the Mostro Disccord, which incorporates a 1991 fastening system into Rocky’s favorite vintage silhouette from PUMA. Initially available in all-black, this design seamlessly merges Rocky’s style with retro technology and the Mostro line.

Bodega x Clarks Patchwork Wallabee 3.0 “Northeast Corridor”

Launch Date: 27th March
Launch Cost: $170 USD
Where to Purchase: Bodega and Clarks
Why You Might Want to Acquire: Bodega has teamed up with Clarks once more, this time reimagining their popular Wallabee model with a unique “Northeast Corridor” patchwork design. This Boston-based store is celebrating its New England heritage by combining duck canvas, weathered leather, and a variety of tweeds. The shoe also boasts a boat collar that enhances the theme, while co-branded tags and a custom dubrae complete the look.

GALLERY DEPT. x OTW by Vans Authentic

Launch Date: 27th of March
Launch Price: $150 USD
Where to Purchase: Vans Store
Why You Should Buy: Designer Josué Thomas’ GALLERY DEPT. has given a unique touch to the Vans OTW model, this time using paint splatters at the front part of the shoe. A golden tag with the GALLERY DEPT. logo is visible on the side, while co-branding can be found on the sockliner and the midsole features Thomas’ “Art That Kills” design in red.

Jae Tips x Saucony Jazz 9 “I Love You But I’m Busy”

Launch Date: 28th March
Launch Price: $150 USD
Where to Purchase: Savior Worldwide
Why You Might Want to Buy: Renowned designer Jae Tips is back with a new Saucony collaboration, focusing on the Jazz 9 as his latest design. The theme for this collection is “I Love You But I’m Busy,” and it showcases an array of vibrant colors including blue, yellow, pink, red, orange, silver, white, and black. Co-branding can be found on the tongue, while a unique sockliner and text that reads “I Love You But I’m Busy” on both shoes adds to its distinctive look.

Bad Bunny x adidas Ballerina “Bold Gold”

Launch Date: 29th of March
Launch Price: $120 USD
Where to Purchase: adidas
Why It’s Worth Getting: This year, Bad Bunny has been on a creative roll, and his latest release is no exception. He’s out with another collaboration project with adidas this week, introducing the brand-new Ballerina silhouette. Drawing inspiration from his Puerto Rican heritage, the shoe combines Adidas’ Taekwondo model with contemporary details such as suede overlays, gold “benito” labeling above the side stripes, and a bungee cord lacing system.

A Ma Maniére x Nike “For The Love”

Launch Date: March 29
Launch Price Range: $150 USD to $225 USD
Where to Purchase: A Ma Maniére
Why It’s Worth Buying: A Ma Maniére concluded its 10th anniversary with a six-shoe collection in collaboration with Nike, Jordan Brand, and Converse last year. Continuing the momentum, the brand is teaming up with Nike (and Jordan Brand) once more to release fresh iterations of the Air Max 95, Air Force 1 Low, and Air Jordan 3 – shoes that were part of the 10th anniversary collection. Each pair boasts stylish co-branding and elegant color schemes, which sneaker enthusiasts have come to expect from A Ma Maniére.

UnheardOf x adidas Adistar Cushion “Piggy Runners”

Launch Date: 29th March
Launch Cost: $185 USD
Where to Purchase: UnheardOf
Why You Should Consider Buying: The collaboration between UnheardOf and adidas is back this week, presenting a fresh take on the Adistar Cushion with a “Piggy Runners” motif in vibrant pink and red. At first glance, it seems like a whimsical pair of shoes, but its underlying message carries a deeper meaning. It encourages embracing the unique traits that might have been ridiculed when you were younger, as those very qualities are what make you distinctive today.

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2025-03-25 21:26