Sneaker designer Jeff Staple has criticized the awarding of Sneaker of the Year to Nigel Sylvester's "Brick After Brick" Air Jordan 4. In a recent podcast interview, Staple argued that a color variation on a 30-year-old design lacks innovation. His comments have sparked debate within sneaker communities.
Jeff Staple, a renowned sneaker designer known for creating the Nike SB Dunk "Pigeon," shared his views during a podcast interview. He founded Staple Design and has collaborated with major brands, giving his opinions significant influence in sneaker culture and design circles.
Staple questioned the award given to Nigel Sylvester's "Brick After Brick" Air Jordan 4, which won Sneaker of the Year. "How is sneaker of the year a different colour of a 30-year-old sneaker?" he asked. He used analogies to illustrate his point, saying, "Can you imagine if the car of the year is a 1984 Honda Civic in red?" Staple further explained, "You couldn't be like, here's my 30-year-old painting, I put a red frame on it."
The sneaker, a collaboration featuring a new colorway on the classic Air Jordan 4 silhouette, released last year and saw high demand from sneaker enthusiasts and the BMX community. Staple's remarks challenge the criteria for the award, emphasizing the need for genuine innovation over color changes in established designs.
These comments have generated discussion about what qualifies as groundbreaking in sneaker collaborations, highlighting tensions between heritage styles and creative advancements.
