The United Kingdom has served up several unforgettable fashion moments that took over our screens this year, including a plethora of sneaker collaborations with local brands, creatives, and designers. Throughout the year, classic silhouettes were given a dose of fresh creativity with the help of British forces, packing release calendars with unique iterations that were instant sell-outs.
British imprint Clarks Originals stormed 2023 with top-tier collaborations alongside Jorja Smith, Stüssy, and Billionaire Boys Club, while Crocs expanded its horizons with Aries and Feng Chen Wang.
Industry-leading brands continued to guide us toward greatness, tapping renowned British designers for heavy-hitting partnerships. Martine Rose and the United States National Team hit the field in gradient-style Shox Mule MR4s, followed by Wales Bonner‘s pearlescent 
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British-Jamaican designer Martine Rose took over 2023 with four new Nike Shox Mule MR4 colorways, succeeding her first collaboration released last year. The bold gradient-style colorways appeared on Fashion Month attendees worldwide, cementing itself as one of 2023’s most coveted drops. Worn by the United States Women’s National Football Team in the build up to the World Cup, the three new colorways were destined for success off the pitch.
Martine Rose opened the gates to the next generation of football enthusiasts, taking inspiration from old-school football boots. The backless mules are drowned in “Scuba Blue” and “Safety Orange,” while an exclusive paint-splattered colorway arrived exclusively via Martine Rose this summer. The shoes have been spotted everywhere this year – and were undoubtedly one of the most head-turning silhouettes of 2023.
LORENZ.OG x Salomon ACS+ OG “Dusk”
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St. Albans-born footwear connoisseur LORENZ.OG (Lorenzo G Federici) made it big in 2023, landing a limited partnership with Salomon in April. The color designer has been making moves for several years, working closely with Virgil Abloh before his passing.
Federici’s debut collaboration expanded on his trademark “PATENTED COLORSCHEMES®” visuals, producing a dip-dyed ACS+ OG enhanced by a sunset-like “Dusk” colorway. LORENZ.OG and Salomon’s inaugural shoe was released in Paris earlier this year ahead of an explosive range with Nike celebrating Top Boy‘s final season.
Wales Bonner x adidas SS23 “Land of Wood and Water” Collection
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Grace Wales Bonner has become globally renowned for her retro-inspired take on classic menswear silhouettes. The designer’s adidas partnership has supplied her with limitless praise, producing seasonal collaborations that never fail to go viral. 2023 saw Wales Bonner debut vibrant Jamaican football kits and metallic Samba colorways while adorning several versions with long-haired uppers and oversized tongues.
Wales Bonner and adidas’ Spring/Summer 2023 “Land of Wood and Water” collection was a homerun, reselling for hundreds over retail through secondhand retailers. The collection marked the start of Wales Bonner’s enlarged tongue trademark, migrating onto several releases throughout the year.
RANRA x Salomon Cross Pro “Better”
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Arnar Már Jónsson and Luke Stevens‘ RANRA first united with Salomon in late 2022, delivering a surreal interpretation of the Salomon Cross Pro. The Nordic-born, London-based label returned to close the summer in style, spreading the RANRA x Salomon Cross Pro “Better” all over the table.
The sustainable release debuted in two subtle colorways, highlighting a less-is-more design process through natural dyes and reduced adhesives. RANRA and Salomon’s cooked up a campaign that saw the shoes baked into traditional Scandinavian dishes, feasting your mind, body, and soul on eco-friendly design.
Clarks Originals x Stüssy Wallabee Boot
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British footwear titan Clarks Originals made its presence known in 2023, issuing several key collaborations that caught eyes far and wide. From Jorja Smith’s Desert Nomad to Billionaire Boys Club’s diamond-encrusted Wallabee Boot, Clarks’ experimental division shows no signs of slowing down.
Clarks Originals’ Stüssy collaboration took the internet by storm, transporting Las Vegas to the UK. The duo’s Wallabee Boot was led by casino playing cards, boasting the four card suits: club, diamond, spade, and heart symbols on the uppers. The game-inspired model followed several additional footwear unions from Levi’s, Popcaan, Daniëlle Cathari, and more.
Palace x UGG Short Boot
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The London lads at Palace electrified 2023 with an authoritative UGG collaboration, igniting the cozy footwear craze with dynamic lightning bolts. “It” girls worldwide have reintroduced the ’00s staple into their wardrobes to stay warm and cozy this winter season.
Palace and UGG’s debut collaboration arrived just in time for Spring, dropping in “Black” and “Chestnut” colorways with embroidered electrical bolts in blue and white hues. Enlarged Palace lettering adorns the rears in customary formation, dominating Instagram feeds and maintaining momentum into the new year with an all-new patched-out Tasman Slipper collaboration.
Kiko Kostadinov’s ASICS NOVALIS Line
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Bulgarian-born, London-based designer Kiko Kostadinov widened his horizons in 2023, migrating to Paris Fashion Week‘s co-ed schedules and making a splash with technical releases and colossal footwear drops. Kostadinov continued to do no wrong with his ongoing ASICS partnership – doubling down on its success by debuting his very own line with the footwear brand.
ASICS NOVALIS is a versatile range of functional garments that keep innovation at the forefront. A variety of apparel kicked off the first collection in November, seeing the ASICS NOVALIS GEL-TEREMOA become hypnotized by three dynamic colorways.
Corteiz x Nike Air Max 95
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Clint419‘s Corteiz is an unstoppable force in the UK and beyond, igniting a streetwear revolution that shuts down international avenues. From its first Fashion Awards nomination to stateside NYC hysteria, Corteiz has cemented its place for decades to come.
Corteiz’s Nike collaboration was its most significant moment of 2023, releasing three Nike Air Max 95 colorways that had fanatics fighting over every pair. The “Gutta Green,” “Pink Beam,” and “Aegean Storm” renditions were regional exclusives, with the first being raffled off in a London-based crossbar challenge event.
HOUSE OF ERRORS x ALIVEFORM “TOPO-01”
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HOUSE OF ERRORS placed itself under a bright spotlight this year, dropping several in-house collections while opening the doors to collaboration. British designer Fully tapped ALIVEFORM for a sustainable 3D-printed shoe that made noise worldwide.
The emerging Japanese label known for its fierce and pioneering attitude lent HOUSE OF ERRORS a helping hand with world-class technology. They crafted the “TOPO-01” model, featuring stacked wavy panels that give off a melting effect. The rubberized shoe arrived in “Black” and “Cherry Blossom” and caused lengthy queues at Tokyo’s Casanova Vintage.
Crocs x Aries Hiker Xscape Clog
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Crocs reigned supreme in 2023, bashing out monthly collaborations that were jarring and eye-catching. From a Christmas-ready Elf Classic Clog to chocolate-dipped Hershey’s versions, Crocs stepped into its own this year.
The resin-built imprint united with London’s Aries for an all-new Hiker Xscape Clog that embraced summer’s final days. Sofia Prantera’s label debuted the new silhouette in “Slate Grey” and “Desert Grass,” featuring platformed soles and rock-like jibbitz that mirror England’s pebbled beaches.
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