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Photography:
TATSURO NISHIMURA

Once December hits, one can’t help but look back at the year in sneaker releases. It’s heartwarming to reminisce about the most triumphant pick-ups and raffle wins, and heartbreaking to be reminded of the most gut-wrenching losses and “passes”. There isn’t an individual out there that is truly undefeated when it comes to the win/loss tally of buying big-ticket shoes, but that’s why platforms like eBay are crucial to the culture. As the originator of the online marketplace of goods beyond retail, eBay continues to be a ironclad source – and we’ve teamed up with the marketplace once again to review some of 2019’s “must-have” sneakers in three leading categories – the Air Jordan Retro, the adidas Yeezy, and the Air Force 1. The three undeniably make up the climate of the sneaker ecosystem, so make sure you’ve got at least one of these in your personal best-of lists.

From revivals to new takes on old schemes, Jordan Brand’s year was one a fair bit more adventurous than most as they ushered in new, interesting versions of their many models while bringing back classics for dedicated fans of some of their most iconic. Among the latter, the Air Jordan 11 “Bred” flew off metaphorical shelves upon its early SNKRS drop and it will likely do the same upon its wider launch in a few days. eBay has you covered on both dates, though, just as it does with the asymmetrically colored Air Jordan 4 “What The” whose pairing of some of the model’s best make for an appropriate close to what was touted as its very own year. Despite that, the Air Jordan 1 had an expansive and consistent run from high, mid, to low and the latter even helped Eric Koston remember the outlet racks of 1986 with its UNC colors and Nike SB touch-ups.

Air Jordan 11 Bred

The YEEZY brand, now good for billions in revenue, had its most successful year to date – and the rest of the industry has clearly taken notice of the booming juggernaut. Much of that unrivaled success is credited to the proliferation of its most popular silhouette – the Yeezy Boost 350 v2. The stylish and casual sneaker was once again an absolute hit in ’19, with the “Glow” sitting atop the heap as one of the silhouette’s most coveted colorways, and while the brand’s strategy of delivering the 350 v2 to the masses encroached even more on Air Jordan territory, the introduction of fresher models like the Yeezy Boost 380 and Yeezy Boost 700 v2 revealed to fans that Kanye was another step closer to living up to his infamous prophecy. Will YEEZY jump over the Jumpman in 2020?

Yeezy Boost 380 Alien

Out of the entire roster of Nike classics, it’s undeniable that the Air Force 1 had one of the best years in terms of its collaborations. Teaming up with South Korean legends and one of the most popular rappers stateside, the silhouette has never looked better than in 2019 and its variety was set to match. In order, Travis Scott paved the way for a loud, almost chaotic trend as his patchwork filter dresses up the model in what is a small nod to classic workwear jackets. Then, Edison Chen’s CLOT came through with a kit royal in all regards: its blue bright and bold, etchings ornate in their motifs, and uppers layered to cut away and reveal a striking grey alternate. In a similar vein, Big Bang leader G-Dragon was greeted with his AF1 “Para-Noise” upon release from the military, sporting his many PEACEMINUSONE themes and an all-over mosaic hidden behind a film of black paint.