It’s hard to believe that Virgil Abloh passed away almost three years ago. A true visionary, the Illinois-born creative was, and still is, regarded by many as one of the most iconic fashion designers of all-time. Even though Abloh actually trained to be an architect, he eventually became one of the most influential people in the industry. His partnership with Nike fully transformed the sneaker industry back in 2017, and when he was appointed as the Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton’s Menswear collection in 2018, he literally made history, becoming the third Black designer ever to head a French fashion house.
As we continue to mourn his passing and celebrate his legacy, we’ve hand-selected 10 of greatest Off-White sneakers of all-time. You might have already expected some of these, but there are a few that are quite controversial. Be sure to hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and let us know which ones you have in your collection, as well as which ones you dream of owning one day!
There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Off-White x Air Jordan 1 High OG “Chicago” is the ultimate Off-White x Nike sneaker. Taking on Michael Jordan’s first ever shoe with the Swoosh, it’s painted in the original colour combination but infused with Abloh’s signature deconstructed aesthetic, including visible stitching, an oversized zip tie, and plenty of Helvetica to go around.
One of the best “Triple Black” trainers in history, the Off-White x Nike Air Presto “Black” is as stealthy as they come. While this isn’t the original black and white pair that released one year prior, it’s probably the most popular one thanks to its ultra versatile paint job. It’s also reasonably priced these days as well considering how sought-after it is.
Made exclusively for the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, the Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Brooklyn” is, without a doubt, one of the most coveted Air Force 1s of all-time. Period. While Abloh has worked on this basketball shoe multiple times in the past, this particular pair is widely considered to be the best of the bunch, largely because he seldom works with this vibrant colour scheme.
What is there not to love about the Off-White x Air Jordan 5 “Black”? Switching out the usual all-leather construction in favour of a full ripstop outfit, Abloh has still managed to retain everything that makes the AJ5 so great while adding his own deconstructed twist to it. Not only is the shoe cool, the box that it comes in is pretty amazing as well.
The Off-White x Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star “White” was one of those sneakers that made us all go, “Wow, we didn’t know that you could actually do that.” Released as part of the original “The Ten” collection, this pair was extremely delayed for reasons unknown. With that said, it’s here now and it’s one of the best Con collabs in history.
A launch unlike any other, the Off-White x Nike Dunk Low “White” dropped as part of 2021’s “Dear Summer…” collection which included 50 different colourways with varying materials and palettes. This particular pair, numbered “01 OF 50,” is the rarest of them all. With a dual lacing system, metallic silver Swoosh, and a pre-aged midsole, there’s nothing else quite like this out there.
When these released around four years ago, the sneaker community went into a wild frenzy. Still considered by many to be one of the best Off-White Jordans in existence, the Off-White x Air Jordan 4 “Sail” was made exclusively in women’s sizes. However, that didn’t stop some guys from squeezing into a pair even though it hurt like hell. Love is pain, right?
One of the main reasons that the Off-White x Nike Air Max 97 “Menta” was so hyped was because it was unlike anything that Abloh had dropped before. While the original sample featured a classic “Wolf Grey” colour scheme, nobody expected the Pyrex Vision founder to add a gradient Swoosh to it. The result is a truly breathtaking piece of footwear that’s sure to turn heads for years to come.
With a versatile Flyknit construction, a full length Air midsole, and a sleek and seamless design, this silhouette was already a winner to begin with. With that said, as soon as Abloh placed his Midas touch on it the Off-White x Nike Air VaporMax 1.0 “Black” became an instant holy grail for many sneakerheads. That red zip tie just looks incredible.
The reason why the AJ2 is so popular these days is largely thanks to the Off-White x Air Jordan 2 Low “Black.” While design elements like Michael Jordan’s signature and the pre-distressed Air midsole are quite controversial, the fact that this was the last Swoosh sneaker that Abloh worked on before his untimely passing automatically makes it one of the greatest Off-White x Nike sneakers of all time.
