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What Supreme’s $2.1 Billion Sale Means for Fashion

The skate brand founded by James Jebbia sold for $2.1 billion to VF Corp, which owns Vans, The North Face, Timberland, and Dickies. What can fashion learn from this mega sale?…

Even during a retail slump, high stakes fashion deals persist. After some turmoil, LVMH is moving forward with its acquisition of Tiffany. Alibaba and Richemont recently invested $300 million each in Farfetch, plus another $250 million to establish Farfetch China to create a global luxury fashion conglomerate. Supreme, the behemoth skateboarding company based in New York, is the latest fashion company acquired in a mega-deal: Today the brand announced its $2.1 billion sale to VF Corp, the company that owns Vans, The North Face, and Timberland—all frequent Supreme collaborators—and Dickie’s. 

“We are proud to join VF, a world-class company that is home to great brands we’ve worked with for years, including The North Face, Vans, and Timberland,” said Supreme’s founder James Jebbia in a statement. “This partnership will maintain our unique culture and independence, while allowing us to grow on the same path we’ve been on since 1994.” Prior to the VF Corp deal, Supreme sold a 50% stake in the brand to The Carlyle Group for $500 million in 2017. 

The news of the sale rippled through the fashion industry—and not just for its price tag. Supreme has long been a gold standard for success: Its uncompromising attitude to aesthetics, products, and customers won the brand a CFDA Award in 2018 and the envious eye of many of its competitors. Here, Vogue Runway breaks down what fashion can learn from Supreme’s ongoing success. 

Streetwear Is Far From Dead

While the term streetwear is overused, our collective preference for casual, fashionable clothing isn’t going anywhere. Supreme’s emphasis on unisex products like tees, hoodies, outerwear, and accessories like beanies, socks, hats, and skateboards, means it has broad appeal to consumers of all genders and age groups. 

The WFH era ushered in by the COVID-19 pandemic has probably only made Supreme more covetable to consumers. If you are sitting at home all day, why not invest in stylish sweatpants or a fashionable hoodie? 

Supreme’s Direct-to-Consumer Model Looks Better Than Ever

The failing wholesale model has been the subject of much conversation during the pandemic, with a group of designers led by Dries Van Noten lobbying retailers to shift their delivery calendars and sales practices. In the United States, multi-brand stores have also taken a hit with Neiman Marcus declaring bankruptcy and beloved boutiques like Totokaelo and Jeffrey shuttering. Supreme has maintained a healthy customer flow. Much of that is thanks to its coveted product, but there’s also the fact that a bricks-and-mortar Supreme store and Supreme’s e-commerce site are the only places to buy official Supreme merchandise. 

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Air Jordan 3 “Paris” Reportedly Trades Elephant Print for Damask

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Jordan Brand may be preparing to drop a special Air Jordan 3 dedicated to one of the world’s most recognizable cities. Landing in June 2027, the Air Jordan 3 “Paris” comes with a unique design that ditches the usual elephant print. Instead, the rumored edition is said to feature damask detailing, special Paris-inspired branding, and a limited drop focused on the French capital.

The first word comes from @zSneakerHeadz, but Jordan Brand has not confirmed the sneaker yet. A mockup is currently circulating, so the final look may differ. That said, the described design is an interesting direction for the Air Jordan 3, especially for fans used to seeing elephant print as one of the silhouettes hallmark visual elements.

The shoe is said to feature a white tumbled leather upper with a navy rubber outsole. The most noticeable change is replacing the traditional elephant print with a damask print. The pattern is reportedly on the toe and heel, with another section next to the Jumpman logo on the tongue. The treatment gives the sneaker a different visual character without straying from the Air Jordan 3’s recognizable structure.

More branding is expected to tie the release closely to its namesake city. The mudguard is said to have the wording “Jordan Paris Family 91, 92, 93, 94,” while the heel is said to have “NIKE PRS.” The details give the shoe a more specific identity than a simple colorway, with the reported inscriptions presenting it as a tribute to Paris and its role in the Jordan Brand story.

The sneaker is expected to be released in men’s sizing and will carry the style code JJ3727-100. It retails for $230 and will be available in select Jordan Brand stores in Paris. If the release details are accurate, the limited distribution may make the pair tough for sneaker fans outside the city to get their hands on. But the brand has not confirmed the information that has been reported, and the image shown is a mockup and not an official product reveal.

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The Air Jordan 3 “Paris” is also expected to join a growing list of regional releases such as the Air Jordan 3 “Middle East.” These projects give Jordan Brand the chance to attack the same silhouette through various regional themes, not just the usual retro colorways. The damask pattern with city-specific branding would, in this case, make the Paris edition clearly distinct.

This classic Air Jordan 3 shape combined with a strange pattern is bound to appeal to collectors. The expected Paris-only distribution adds another layer of exclusivity, although the final release details have yet to be confirmed. If the June 2027 launch comes to fruition as described, the Air Jordan 3 “Paris” could be one of the more unique regional editions on Jordan Brand’s calendar.

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Nike LeBron 24 “Christmas” – Holiday Collection Gets Grinchy Green Look

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Nike Basketball’s holiday collection is starting to take shape, and LeBron James’ latest signature shoe is bringing a particularly loud look to the seasonal crop. First-look images of the Nike LeBron 24 “Christmas” have surfaced, showcasing a black and electric green colorway with metallic silver accents. The rumored Grinch-inspired direction of the upcoming release is shaping up to be one of the more unique additions to Nike’s Christmas footwear collection.

The shoe will be dropped on December 4 for $200. Its most striking feature is the electric green colorway, which gives the design a strong visual identity. Black is used on the upper for contrast, and metallic silver is seen on the Swoosh near the heel. Another contrasting touch comes from a red logo on the tongue, offering a subtle nod to holiday colors within the overall aesthetic. The shoe continues the theme with a green rubber outsole below.

Aside from the looks, the LeBron 24 “Christmas” also features performance elements associated with the broader LeBron 24 line. The outsole has a Zoom Turbo unit that is said to keep the shoe light and quick. That bit gives the holiday edition purpose beyond just its seasonal styling, keeping it tied to the basketball performance direction of the signature series.

The Grinch concept is part of a larger “naughty list” theme that also includes the Sabrina 4 and Book 2. Rather than treating the LeBron 24 as a standalone holiday release, Nike seems to be building a connected seasonal collection around the idea. The electric green colorway fits that direction, making the shoe pop while giving the broader theme a recognizable visual thread.

The first glimpse of the sneaker came via a 360-degree video Nike shared. The audience got a first look at the color blocking and design details as the shoe was presented from various angles. A handful of basketball creators also got a sneak peek at the pair earlier on a trip to Nike headquarters, helping build the early hype around the release.

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The style code is IO8205-300 and the shoe is expected to drop in men’s sizing through Nike and select retailers. The December 4 date and $200 price point give us a sense of what to expect, but the information provided doesn’t list every retailer that will sell the sneaker.

The Nike LeBron 24 ‘Christmas’ is holiday-themed and performance-inspired for LeBron’s signature line, featuring a bright green colorway with silver details, red tongue branding, and an outsole with Zoom Turbo cushioning. Its Grinch-inspired theme also fits clearly into Nike Basketball’s broader seasonal plans. If you’re a fan of the brand’s Christmas releases, this pair is already making a strong first impression.

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