The drop game in 2023 moves at lightning pace, so you have to move fast in order to cop the goods that you’re after. You might not have an army of bots at your disposal, but here’s Esquire Middle East’s guide to the must-have items of the moment. Five drops, each one kind of unusual, each one worth a place in your wardrobe as well as your heart.
KidSuper’s unexpected Barnsley kit
In what must go down as one of the weirded collabs of all-time, the New York-based designer, founder of streetwear brand KidSuper and former winner of the LVMH Karl Lagerfeld Prize, Colm Dillane (aka KidSuper) was asked to work on a new kit for English Championship side (that’s the second tier, if you didn’t know) Barnsley, and he jumped at the chance. The result is something suitably out there that fans will either love or hate. Either way, it’s collectable.
Frank Ocean’s Prada anorak
When Frank Ocean’s jewellery and accessories brand Homer collaborated with Prada back in 2021 on the limited collection Prada for Homer 1, it had some choice pieces. Not least the nylon anorak Ocean then wore in a W Magazine cover shoot—which subsequently sold out in double-quick time. Now, thanks to the luxe consignor Justin Reed you can pick up one in green or grey here. That’s if you’re willing to pay the $7,000, of course.
Loewe’s monochromatic pixelated hoodie
Back in April, Loewe dropped a collection of clothes that looked like they’d just been pulled from an 8-bit Atari game. The pieces came in baby blue and yellow, and were outlined with a black, two-dimensional trompe-l’œil effect (you might have seen A$AP Rocky sporting one). The new collection is more monochromatic, featuring jeans, bags and tees. But we can’t take our eyes off this hoodie. It’s metaverse fashion irl, and we’re here for it.
Puma x Noah’s smash return
It’s good to see Puma making a fist of things in the streetwear fight, in fact you could say that their moves of late have pushed them above the likes of adidas in the style stakes. This collab with Noah is based on the iconic Puma Star shoe, one that the brand has brought back for the first time since its ’70s heyday. The collection features tennis court inspiration, including caps, vests, tees and sweaters. Meanwhile, the Brian Billow-directed ad features the shoe causing a stir on the court, while everybody else is naked.
Pokemon x Samsung Galaxy Buds collectibles
Something a little different to close. When Samsung revealed its first collaboration with Pokemon last year, with a version of the Galaxy buds 2 wireless earbuds, they didn’t include anything extra, had no extra battery life and didn’t really fit in your pocket. They still sold out in super-fast time. This new version updates the case, but that’s about it. Expect them to sell out too. Gotta catch them all? Well no, just one will do actually.