Ronnie Fieg has never worked for or with Nike, but there’s a clear Swoosh inspiration in this latest release.  Not only did Ronnie Fieg serve as a guest designer for this new Asics Gel Saga II in the collaborative style Nike helped make central to the modern sneaker landscape, but the ‘Mazarine Blue’ Gel Saga II was also released in a pattern we’ve seen eminating from Beaverton.  First off, the #kithstrike surprise release of 100 pairs Tuesday morning is both in name and practice quite similar to Nike’s Quickstrike drops, and as has been the case in several of the more popular pairs in recent years, that super-limited debut won’t be the last we’ll hear from this pair.  In fact, the bulk of ‘Mazarine Blue’ Gel Sagas will still be available when they arrive at Kith NYC on December 29th, 200 of the 300-pair limited run still up for grabs.  Will you make an early resolution to line up and get Ronnie Fieg’s last Asics collab of 2011?  Click through to see some tempting images and stick with Sneaker News for word on his upcoming projects.

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The Nike Zoom Kobe VII System gives you more options than any other basketball shoe ever created.  Not only can you decide on your chosen cushioning setup, but in a level that takes ‘Attack Fast/Attack Strong’ a step beyond the Air Jordan 2011′s ‘Quick/Explosive’ interchangeable insoles, you can choose which one you prefer, select a cuff height and then color it up to match the Zoom Kobe VII on NIKEiD.  Arguably the best part of all of this, is that the ZK7 Insert is available as a separate product at the same time that you can create your own custom Zoom Kobe 7s.  That means you could potentially craft a huge number of different shoe/insert combos, or go with a solid colorway on the sneaker and then order inserts in a wide range of colors.  Truly, the latest Kobe Bryant signature from Nike Basketball is in a league of its own when it comes to custom appeal; which colors/palettes will you choose?

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Ultraviolet light is invisible to the human eye, but just like the Air Jordan Retros we’re waiting to see cycle around to refresh some of the beloved classics, Jordan Brand looks to bring it into your field of vision moving into 2012.  Both of the models we have previewed with multiple colorway retro runs next year will release in a white leather upper accented by black and the purple shade in question.  The biggest difference between the Air Jordan IV GS pictured above and the AJX also featuring Ultraviolet hits is that the Tens addition of Cyber neon green/yellow gives a more Halloweeny feel while these Fours are a tad more feminine.  Then again, we’ve seen countless Mike Bibby PEs in similar colorways, and it’s likely that sneakerheads Sacramento and beyond would snatch up a Kings-style release ported over to the Four in a full size run.  But alas, these are limited to grade school sizes for youngsters and ladies; anyone care to posit the argument that Jordan Brand’s GS colorways are preferable to the mens editions?  Let us know with a comment after you click through to see more angles, and stick with Sneaker News for the ‘Ultraviolet’ Air Jordan IV release date.  via Air-Randy

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If you’re a sucker for premium materials, then you are well aware of upsides of copping a sneaker that opts for full grain leather. The upcoming canvas and leather pack from Vans does just that, with the smoother parts of the sneaker getting the smart leather look. Featured in the drop are three different colorways of both the Vans Era 59 and the Vans Zapato del Barco, with the leather lace wrap on the latter repping the look especially well. Also worth mentioning is the sturdy canvas upper, a look that has become synonymous with the Off the Wall brand. Follow us after the jump to get an extensive look at the whole collection, and be on the look out for them next year at your local Vans spot. via FreshNGood

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The aptly titled Converse Addict line has been doing its thing out in Japan for a minute now, cranking out high-end releases for heads who can’t get enough of the All-Star brand. The premium construction on these is the big draw, putting them quite a few notches above your standard Converse Chuck Taylor All Star. The latest in the collection is this clean canvas pair, a simple look that downplays their top tier status. While they may come off as run-of-the-mill pair to untrained eye, addicts know all about the upgraded Vibram sole and the Poron insert for extra cushioning. Hit the jump for the full look and grab these now from Anout Commune.

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Back in elementary school it may have been acceptable to break your sweetie off with some heart shaped candies, but if you’re past that stage then you need to step your gift game up. Enter the New Balance 996 ‘Valentines Day’, a red suede pair of kicks that has all the right detailing for that special day in February. The aforementioned red is an obvious choice, but in addition to that there are the heart shaped lacelocks and eyelets, as well as a graphic insole with more Cupid-approved details. Even the tongue tag goes for a romantic, swirly script. Get a full look at this special ladies release for the New Balance 996 after the jump and let us know if you’ll be picking these up come February. via SneakerFreaker

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The baseball portion of Michael Jordan’s sports career is one that most would probably want to look over, but despite not reaching levels of success and stardom as he did with basketball, Michael was still a competitor that trained hard to reach the pinnacle of excellence. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for us to realize that slam dunks and sweet jumpers didn’t translate to frozen ropes and oppo-hitting, and once the MLB lockout in ’94 went in full swing, Michael decided to feed his insatiable appetite for competition in the sport he knew best (and merely went on to win three more NBA championships). Because Jordan’s time with the Birmingham Barons was so short-lived any Air Jordan products that were made for MJ during that tenure is considered quite rare, and this autographed, game-worn pair of PE Cleats in this sick display case certainly falls under that category. Just 45 displays exist, but you can bid on one by visiting this live auction from pdarmos on eBay.

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He’s swapped soles and he’s dyed soles, but for his most recent custom pair of Foams, Jason Negron went where no man has gone before. That’s right, he done did it: Here’s a look at Jason’s Nike Air Foamposite One ‘Light-Up’ Customs, which features LED lights embedded into the shoe. Combining the futuristic appeal of the Foamposite and the light-up Nike Mag Swag, this Foamposite make-over redefines the boundaries of custom sneakers by going beyond colors and materials and into the stratosphere of photons and light energy. At the outset, these Foams look like simple sole-swaps (the Neo Lime outsole switched out for a translucent one), but with the some nice handi-work and a AAA battery, these Foamposites light up both literally and figuratively as the LED bulbs completely surround the border of the outsole, giving out a dotted appearance like a full-length Max Air unit. We’ve got a nice detailed gallery of these night-time Foamposites after the jump (as well as some neat on-feet images), so take a good look and if you want to light up your own Foams, contact Jason Negron through his Sole Swap Facebook page.

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With the past couple of Nike Zoom KD IV releases like the ‘Nerf’ and ‘Weatherman’ getting snatched up so quickly, you’d better have a plan for KD’s latest from the Nike Basketball ‘Christmas Pack’. Its closest relative based purely on the colorway, the Nike Air Foamposite One ‘Copper’, was gone off retail shelves in the blink of an eye-so don’t expect heads to sleep on these either. Up to this point the supposed Christmas tie in has been pretty elusive, but the shot after the jump of the insole displays a cookie looking KD logo. Continue reading for a full look and let us know where the Nike Zoom KD IV ‘Metallic Bronze’ ranks on your holiday must haves. via ITSB

Nike Zoom KD IV
Metallic Bronze/Black/Chilling Red
473679-700

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DJ Envy and Charlamagne Tha God played the role of event host for the Power 105.1 ‘Breakfast Club’ One Year Anniversary Concert, which was held at the Best Buy theater in New York City. Among the performers was Wale, Meek Millz, and French Montana, but your attention might’ve been diverted towards the hosts’ kicks; DJ Envy pulled a ‘Wale’ and rocked the Nike LeBron 9 ‘Christmas’ (the release is this Sunday), while Charlamagne Tha God kept it clean with the White/Cement Air Jordan III. We’ve got some extra shots of their kicks below so take a look and let us know who rocked the better kicks! via alleyesonwho.

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Evolution is defined as a procession of change or growth over a period of time. Sometimes, evolution has the unpredictable tendency of leap-frogging a few steps, carrying out unforeseen advancements that tighten the boundaries of survival. One such leap can be traced back to the creation of the Nike Zoom Kobe V; it created new conventions of performance basketball design by adapting key details from the sport of international football (soccer), implementing the low-cut construction and a rigid heel counter that has been the standard for top-flight comfort in a sport that relies so heavily on speed and lightweight performance. The Kobe V was tailored directly to Kobe Bryant’s game, who relied on rapid cuts and electrifying bursts of speed on the hardwood; soon after, the low-cut basketball shoe then became less of an acquired taste and more of a mainstream fit, marking the Zoom Kobe V as one of the revolutionary basketball sneakers of all-time. It’s been just two years since the debut of the Kobe V, but the conventions of Nike Basketball are about to be shaken up once again.

With the Nike Zoom Kobe VII System Supreme, evolution has experienced another jump forward; by introducing interchangeable cushioning units never before seen in any other Nike Basketball sneaker in history, the Nike Zoom Kobe VII provides a truly tailor-made fit for basketball players of all types. The Attack Fast (Leopard) takes advantage of the low-cut, lightweight construction while utilizing the unparalleled Zoom Air on the forefoot and heel to keep the foot properly cushioned. The Attack Strong (Great White Shark) features the same cushioning foundation, but introduces a higher-cut ankle cuff engineered with padded power-stretch material that keeps the foot locked down for intense battles in the trenches. While designed to the specifics of Kobe Bryant, the Nike Zoom Kobe VII System Supreme truly allows any player of any style to maximize his or her performance at any coordinate on the hardwood; by essentially doubling its power with the multi-option cushioning, the Nike Zoom Kobe VII System Supreme has created a unique standard of performance basketball while leading the charge of a rising torrent of new-age designs. Get ready to lace up in one of the most game-changing sneakers ever created because Nike Zoom Kobe VII System Supreme will officially hit Nike Basketball retailers like Primitive tomorrow, or pick up a pair now on eBay.

Nike Zoom Kobe VII Supreme
Black/White-Del Sol-Stealth
488244-001

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With digital camouflage being one of the print options for the Bespoke, one can create quite the high-tech military-inspired shoe. Francky B chose to use the digi-camo for the majority of the upper, using a Desert Storm digi-camo motif on the upper paired with a cool grey suede on the toe-box and center panel. He then gives it some visual pop by adding minute touches of volt around the swoosh, the heel-stripe, and the bottom-most lace eyelet that speaks volumes in contrast. Francky then finished off the design by going tonal black on the midsole as well as the inner lining. It’s a superb use of color that surprisingly matches well with the finicky digi-camo print, so check out this latest Bespoke creation below and let us know what you think. via NK.

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