Some of Our Favourite Record Label x Sneaker Collaborations

There’s just something right about a record label x sneaker collaboration; they go together like and the . From to and to , the big dogs of sneakers have searched the depths of Bandcamp and the highest listeners on Spotify to suss out their latest record label link. Over the decades, there’s been ventures with heavy hitters like Shady Records and Roc-a-Fella, all the way to the indie underground with VP Records and PAN.

Here are some of our favourite times record labels received sneaker collaborations.

Apron Records x Nike Air 180

Is this addition to the list recency bias? You’ll have to ask us in five years, and we bet after that time has passed we’ll still be saying this Air 180 belongs in the top tier! Apron Records is a UK-based label founded in 2014 by Steven Julien and boasts an eclectic catalogue. In 2025, they joined forces with Team Swoosh, likely making a connection through their close ties with , for a mega colab that was adorned in green. Launching pairs through a pop-up, they surprised fans with a second super secretive ‘Bloodline’ colourway.

Dekmantel x Salomon XT-4

Dekmantel, a megalithic festival that anyone who’s a music nerd or party fiend should experience at least once, is also a record label. From compilations to EPs, the Netherlands-based outfit has launched an array of tracks from across the intergalactic plain of electronic music. While they’re experts in progressive trance, dubby techno and groovy tech house, they were novices when it came to sneaker colabs… until 2023! Ahead of their festival that year, the Dutch dons and linked for an that was just as hectic as a Donato Dozzy closing set.

PAN x Nike Air 180

While this isn’t the brightest record label collaboration on the list, PAN’s Air 180 is one of the most unique! Founded in 2008 by Bill Kouligas, PAN Records are known for their experimental music and art, working with artists like Yves Tumour and Eartheater. For their Air 180, PAN made quite an impression with no lateral and medial Swooshes! And, just like Apron Records's venture earlier in 2025, PAN followed their triple black iteration with a secret ‘Nix’ colourway.

DQM x Blue Note Records x Vans

, Blue Note Records, and Vans – three legends in one colab! Throughout 2015, DQM had a collaborative series running with Vans, and in April of that year launched a three-way linkup with Blue Note Records, one of the most iconic jazz labels of all time. Founded way back in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis, Blue Note was responsible for the careers of icons like Freddie Hubbard and Horace Silver. Alongside their string of hits, they were also known for a swathe of iconic album artwork that provided the inspiration for a Vans and .

Def Jam x PUMA

When it comes to hip-hop history, Def Jam dominates. The record label, founded in the early-80s by Rick Rubin and Russell Simons, had a large hand in the careers of The Beastie Boys, , , , Public Enemy, , Rick Ross, Ludacris, , Cam’ron… we could go on. They tapped in 2019 to celebrate their 35th anniversary by immortalising their reign at the top with a catalogue of releases.

Sub Pop x Nike SB Blazer High

What do Seattle grunge godfathers Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney all have in common? They’ve all inked deals with legendary record label Sub Pop. After being founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman, Sub Pop has been credited as the popularising force behind Grunge. Immortalising their success, Sub Pop hooked up with for a hectic and super limited colourway of the . Embroidering ‘SP78’ on the heels, which was a nod to the record label’s catalogue number, the SB Blazer boasted a hectic yellow upper with graphic touches. Nowadays, despite the SB revival hype of the past few years, you can still pick up a pair for sub-$500.

Terror Squad x Nike Air Force 1

From licking the sole of the ‘Olympic’ during his feature on MTV Cribs to boasting a sneaker collection made of unobtanium, Fat Joe’s legacy in kicks is immortal. And back in the early aughts, he also had his own that were in collaboration with the group and record label he fronted called Terror Squad. Initially given out to friends and family in the 2000s, OG pairs have since reached grail-status and sell for eye-watering amounts. Two decades later, Nike decided to bring back the Joey Crack flavour, dropping a stack of collaborative iterations so everyone can feel the Terror.

Roc-a-Fella x Nike Air Force 1

We can’t forget about the Roc! Way back in 2004, iconic Roc-a-Fella Records received its very own Uptown. Later in 2007, pairs released to the public before slowly disappeared into the back of sneakerhead’s closets. In a surprise twist during the 2017 AF-1 resurgence, Team Swoosh announced the return of the Roc-a-Fella x Air Force 1.

Shady Records x Nike

, Shady Records and Nike have a long standing relationship that dates back to the mid-2000s, and they boast a collection of limited creps with deep history and exorbitant secondary market values. Over the years, Eminem’s work with Nike on super rare kicks has actually been for charity (alongside a few PEs). Shady Records also had a hand in many of them, including a bevy of Air Force 1s, an and .

Death Row Records x Ewing Athletics

During the 1990s, Death Row Records was a powerhouse that had heavy hitters like Tupac Shakur, and Dr. Dre on their roster. Nowadays, with their founder Suge Knight incarcerated and many of the big names no longer affiliated, Death Row isn’t the tour de force it once was. However, in 2019, they wanted to remind everyone to ‘come to Death Row’, linking with for a collection of kicks.