While 2023 didn’t bring a major influx of celebrity-backed brands and shoe launches, there were a few that stood out. Most notably, Rihanna.
The star made her big return to footwear in September with the launch of the Fenty x Puma Avanti. The surprise partnership was first revealed in the middle of Paris Fashion Week in March, not long after her headline-making Super Bowl Halftime Show performance. Puma revealed the news with a simple statement: “She’s back.” The launch generated major excitement within the company, who first teamed up with the artist at the end of 2014.
Most recently, Rihanna debuted Fenty x Puma Creeper Phatty, a new take on the shoe style she originally launched with Puma.
In June, TikTok’s favorite family, the D’Amelios, launched their own footwear brand. Through their venture, D’Amelio Brands, Charli and Dixie D’Amelio and their parents will develop and launch a series of products under their name. The goal of the venture is to lay the framework for a true family business — and a more stable source of revenue than endorsement deals. It will also give them more control over the brands they promote.
First up was footwear. Their first line of women’s shoes included seven styles and 28 SKUs, including combat boots, booties, platform slides, sneakers and pumps, with prices set between $80 and $200.
Other celebrity sneaker collaborations, including J Balvin and Storm Reid, made their mark this year.
The much-anticipated J Balvin x Air Jordan 3 “Medellín Sunset” released in September. The Colombian singer’s first Air Jordan 3 came after his Air Jordan 1 and Air Jordan 2 collabs from 2020 and 2022, respectively.
Storm Reid, meanwhile, solidified herself this year as one of Gen Z’s ultimate trendsetters. Not only did she take home FN’s Style Influencer of the Year Award at the annual FN Achievement Awards, but she also launched her first signature sneaker with New Balance, titled the Storm Reid CT302. “I’ve always loved sneakers,” Reid told FN. “Actually, my ultimate dream was to design my own sneaker one day. But I had no idea this would happen so soon.”
Skechers also had a major celebrity moment with its its artist-in-residence, Doja Cat.
In September, the Los Angeles-based footwear company launched its first sneaker with the rapper, titled the Doja’Lite. “To design something inspired by the iconic sneaker my peers wore back in the day — Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera — I feel like I am a part of history,” Doja Cat said.
Mark Wahlberg’s premium performance brand Municipal launched its first unisex sneaker this fall. Called the “Origin” sneaker, the model was designed in partnership with P448 parent company StreetTrend and is a multi-functional performance shoe mean to boast extreme comfort and innovation.
Mario Lopez also launched his eponymous collection this fall. The first sneaker range, which FN teased back in June, features an assortment of five styles for men in classic colorways like black, navy and white. All models available on Lopez’s new site, which launched in October, currently retails for $69.99.
Finally, Teyana Taylor wowed fans with her own sneaker release in collaboration with Jordan Brand. The Teyana Taylor x Air Jordan 1 “The Rose in Harlem” style, sold out in minutes following its launch on June 1 and marked her first collab with the brand.
