Legendary pairings all-round
After a year of football-meets-fashion collaborations, New Balance and Stone Island took it one step further. The legendary Italian label released its first-ever pair of football boots, cementing Stone Island’s footballing legacy by making the move from the terraces to the pitch. The boots achieved an even-more mythic status in the first England game of the World Cup, when Raheem Sterling managed to get the badge in as he scored England’s third goal. All of this got us thinking about the best brands who could release their own football boots, so here are 10 potential collaborations we’d love to see.
New Balance1Aries x New Balance Furon
Who it’s for: The rough diamonds, unpredictable and mercurial attackers.
Aries made the move into sports designing special-edition kits for AS Roma and New Balance recently, but that should just be the beginning of the brand’s foray into football. Building on that collaboration, the London-based label could bring its luxury streetwear aesthetic to New Balance’s Furon silhouette. Think loud patterns, animal prints and tie-dye sections, all adding up to create a terrifying design perfect for the unpredictable and mercurial attackers of the world. Yes, we mean Darwin Nunez.
AdvertisementGetty Images / adidas2Pharrell Williams x adidas X Speedportal.1
Who’s it for: The flair player.
Pharrell’s collaboration with adidas has been going on for years now, and the producer-rapper-designer’s Hu NMD line has proven a long-running hit for the Three Stripes. The PrimeKnit upper and plastic cages could be translated onto a pair of boots, while the colourful designs chosen by Pharrell for the silhouette would mean he’s the perfect fit for adidas’ X Speedportal.1. Beloved by players at this year’s World Cup and often adorned with a head-turning array of bright colours.
Getty Images / Dr Martens3Dr. Martens
Who’s it for: The reliable, no-nonsense centre half.
Hear us out. Dr. Martens actually have something of a footballing heritage, having sponsored some of the all-time great West Ham Premier League kits in the past. As well as that, the heritage label is known for its sturdy and rigid footwear – they were originally designed as work boots, after all – two words that could equally be applied to a dying breed of if-in-doubt centre-halves. We’ll cut to the chase: imagine Harry Maguire booting the ball out for a throw while wearing some Dr. Martens.
Margiela / Reebok4Maison Margiela x Reebok Sprintfit Pro
Who’s it for: The ultimate luxury player.
It’s been a long time since Reebok last made a football boot, but the brand signed with Botafogo earlier this year, beginning its reentry into the sport. What better way to build on that than by translating its flagship collaboration – with Maison Margiela – into the footballing arena. Some of the trademarks, such as the hand-painted finish or Tabi toes, might make them unsuitable for elite-level football, but they’ll definitely make the player stand out. There would be nothing practical about the boots, which makes them the perfect fit for an overindulgent luxury player. Think Dimitar Berbatov’s deft first touch and refusal to run.
