History of Pokemon Sneaker Collaborations

Despite what the show tells its hundreds of millions of fans throughout the world, there is no way to actually catch all the Pokémon. Even if you want to narrow down your search to a specific subset of Pokémon or Pokémon-related merchandise, you are going to find that some items are nearly impossible to find. In the world of the trading card game, your competition is going to be fellow collectors and opportunistic resellers.

Toys connected to a particular Pokémon will have rarities that might be super limited in production. And in the case of Pokémon sneakers, some pairs are either going to be just out of reach because they are locked away in regions thousands of miles away, or they simply existed in the minds of a scam artist trying to cash in on the fandom.

As Pokémon fans grew up to have the disposable income to wear their favorites on their feet, the Pokémon Company has obliged with a deluge of sneaker collaborations over the past decade. From luxury brands to exclusive digital goods in video games, these unique collaborations have led to some unexpected surprises. Along with the sneakers and Crocs that many people are familiar with stateside, there has also been a steady stream of Japan and other Asia-exclusive pairs that will always feel out of reach, adding to the thrill of collecting.

Here’s a look back at the biggest Pokémon sneaker collaborations of the past 10 years.

Pokémon Center Exclusives (Ongoing)

One thing you can count on when it comes to Pokémon is that the Pokémon Center is your one-stop shop for exclusives that can’t be found anywhere else. Unfortunately for non-Japanese Pokémon fans - and there’s a lot of them - these stores are almost entirely located in Japan, with a handful of exceptions in Singapore, Taipei, and Bangkok. Along with the usual array of plushies, trading cards, and other swag are the occasional drops of Pokémon Center-branded sneakers and slip-ons based on classic characters and popular trainers. While not collaborations in the typical sense, their relative rarity outside of Japan makes them just as elusive as your high energy drops.

Pokémon Go x High Beam (2016)

Despite what other sneaker outlets might say, High Beams’ light-up sneaker that supposedly connected to the Pokémon Go app never actually released. It was a marketing play by High Beams to get some attention at the height of the game’s popularity back in 2016. There was never an official collaboration with Pokémon or Niantic, the developers of Pokémon Go. And considering the lack of resale footprint or even a nostalgic #TBT post on the 10th anniversary of Pokémon Go, it’s more than likely the sneakers never even released.

Pokémon Go x Vixole (2016)

While High Beam never went beyond a press release/blog post/Tweet with broken links, sneaker startup Vixole sold people on a dream. Founded by Jackson Dong, Vixole was pitched as the world’s first “e-sneaker” years before RTFKT convinced Nike to believe the hype. The first sneaker was called the Vixole Matrix, and it promised features like a wraparound LED screen on the heel, motion sensors, haptic feedback, and integration with games like Pokémon Go. But just like High Beam, neither Pokémon nor Niantic had any involvement in the project. Vixole launched a successful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign in 2016, raising over $200,000 in funds. However, outside of prototypes that some believers claimed to see, Vixole never produced any real products. Sadly, nearly 800 believers from Indiegogo were left holding the bag as their money was never refunded.

Pokémon x Fila Korea (2018)

Unlike other countries where the brand is often overlooked by its competitors, the perception of Fila Korea in its home country is a little warmer. Since acquiring the rights to the company outright in 2007, Fila Korea has firmly established itself in its home market, as evidenced by The Pokémon Company working with it on an exclusive suite of products that were only available in the region. Sneakers included the Fila Kicks B skate shoe and the Fila Court Deluxe Low

Pokémon x GCDS (2018)

Pokémon teaming up with an Italian luxury streetwear brand named “God Can’t Destroy Streetwear*” might sound outside of the Pokémon Company’s wheelhouse, but projects like these are a helpful reminder that Nintendo does not own Pokémon outright. If The Pokémon Company wants to license Pikachu and Jigglypuff to an Italian luxury streetwear brand called “God Can’t Destroy Streetwear,” they have every right to do so. And the result was knee-high boots that are being sold for premium prices at resale platforms. Whether anybody is actually paying those premium prices is a different story.

*GCDS would eventually change the name to mean Giuliano Calza Design Studio. Probably the best move long term…

Pokémon x Glamb (2019)

Glamb is a niche Japanese label that successfully captures the essence of Pikachu on its sneakers. From the tail to the fuzzy texture of the upper to the iconic pocket monster’s ears that can be found on the tongue, it’s a perfect compliment to a Pikachu cosplay. The only problem is finding these as they were a Japan exclusive.

Pokémon x adidas (2019-2020)

Pokémon’s ongoing work with adidas began with the Grand Court, which paid homage to the OGs Pikachu and Squirtle with an all-over print of each character on their respective pairs, along with an embroidered graphic on the lateral sides. The follow-up was a love letter to fans of the classic Game Boy games with a pixelized Pikachu on the heel, along with their friends on the graphic of the collar.

Pokémon x Zara (2020)

It’s the Zara Metallic Heel Stretch Ankle Boots, but with a Poké Ball for the heel instead of your standard build. Yet another example of The Pokémon Company being able to do what it wants without any pushback from the other owners of the IP, because Nintendo would never allow such a collaboration. Goombas in stilettos? Sure. Poke balls for heels? Potentially a bridge too far.

Pokémon Go x Gucci x The North Face (kinda) (2021)

With much of the world still taking extra precautions by staying at home and avoiding large crowds during this time, some people found solace by going on hiking trips and walking for miles to get away from it all. But the excursions had a dual purpose for Pokémon Go players as they would be able to capture Pokémon they otherwise would never find in the city. Gucci and The North Face would team up and bring their collaboration to the people in the form of digital swag that they could outfit their avatars in the game. Yes, for a brief moment, your fit could not even attempt to match the swag (and price tag) of your trainer who was rocking Gucci and North Face gear.

Pokémon Go x JD Sports x Nike (?) (2021)

JD Sports would offer a similar promotion later in the year while also giving the world the first glimpse of what a Nike and Pokémon collaboration could look like. Like the Gucci collaboration, Pokémon Go players would receive exclusive digital JD Sports merch that included Nike gear such as the Nike Air Max 2021. Just like your avatar was cool enough to rock Gucci and North Face gear before you, JD Sports allowed people to see Nike and Pokémon team up in the most unexpected of ways. Now if we can only get an actual Pokémon sneaker collab that people can actually wear.

Pokémon x Asics (2021)

Released exclusively in kids' sizes, Pokémon’s lone collaboration with Asics so far has Pikachu, Eevee, Greninja, and Charizard sneakers ready for the younger trainers in the family. Possibly as a result of the lack of Pokémon Asics sneakers in adult sizes, there are a number of sneaker customizers and Photoshop wizards who have brought their favorites onto the sneakers like the Gel-Kayano 4 and much more.

Pokémon x Converse and Converse Japan (2021-2022)

For the 25th anniversary of Pokémon, Converse USA debuted a new Chuck Taylor All-Star collaboration with Pokémon that goes all the way back to the beginning with the original 3 starters plus Pikachu. Considering the sway Pokémon still has on the culture all these years, it made sense to highlight the OGs instead of the future generation starters. A year later, Converse Japan would feature a more sedate take with nearly monochromatic Chucks with the pixelized characters on tongue.

Pokémon x Balmain (2022)

To promote the Massively Online Battle Arena game Pokémon Unite, players who logged in to the game for the month of September were treated to a pack of in-game Balmain x Pokémon gear. While many people gravitated towards the gaudy sweaters from the collection, sneakerheads were taken aback by the Balmain B-Bold sneaker based on Pikachu, with the pods represented by the white and red of Poké Balls while the upper is a take on the electric mouse.

Pokémon x Clarks (2022-2024)

Pikachu was the subject of Clarks’ 2022 Pokémon collaboration featuring the iconic Wallabee boots. Using debossed graphics to depict Pikachu, pairs came in yellow and black colorways that somehow managed to be equally bright and decisively un-subtle. Clarks would follow the Pikachu-centric collection with a more sedated take on the OG starting Pokemon in their evolved forms and the elusive Mewtwo.

Pokémon x Comme des Garçons x Vans (2022)

Vans and Pokémon have yet to team up on a specialized collaboration, but they were partners alongside Comme des Garçons for a different take on a familiar style. From Clarks to adidas, the all-over print of Pikachu appears to be a winning formula. Leave it to the CDG to change things up and release an Old Skool with a clean all-white upper, but with Pikachu and CDG branding found throughout the midsole. It was an extraordinary flip on the familiar concept, but it was a worthwhile attempt.

Pokémon x Puma (2022-2026)

Puma has been able to bring Pokémon to their most iconic silhouettes, starting with the Puma Suede and the RS-X getting the Pikachu and Squirtle colorways in 2022 to the adoption of more modern Pokémon like Umbreon and Espeon for their “Into Another World” theme for the collabs that just dropped a few months ago. But the pair that piqued the interest of some hoopers was the debut of a Pokémon-themed basketball shoe, the Pikachu-colored All-Pro Nitro 2. There's also the ultra-limited Mewtwo Puma Suede, with only 150 pairs produced in a special box that plays a scene from one of the Pokémon films.

Pokémon x Crocs (2022-2026)

Since acquiring the Pokémon license, there has been a steady stream of Pokémon-related Crocs that ensure fans are able to cop without too many issues. From vibrant prints to giant Jibittz that nearly occupy the entirety of the clog’s upper, people who are disappointed their favorite did not make the cut can take solace in knowing the next collab is just around the corner and hope springs eternal for the sneakerhead who wants a Psyduck clog or even just an official Jibittz.

Pokémon x Springle (2023)

Just like Glamb, Springle is a smaller independent sneaker brand that has worked with The Pokémon Company on some fan-favorite kicks with designs that have more of a casual feel in comparison to Puma’s recent slate that included a performance basketball shoe. Available at Japanese Pokémon Centers, these lifestyle sneakers feature popular characters like Sylveon, Lucario, Milotic, and more.

Pokémon 30th Anniversary x adidas (2026)

For the 30th Anniversary of the Pocket Monsters franchise that shows no signs of slowing down, adidas is celebrating Pikachu and company with a 12-sneaker drop that runs through adidas’ current rotation including the ZX 500, the XLG 2.0, the adistar Control 3 and 5, and the mainstays like the Superstar, Pro Model, and Samba. Along with Pikachu, the collection also includes the full evolution of Charmander to Charizard and Gastly to Gengar, and the legendary Rayquaza on both the Megaride and the ZX 500.

Juan Martinez

From video game journalism to veteran of the sneaker blog era to podcasting about well, everything, Juan is smiling through it all and can't believe this is his life. After recently getting into Formula 1, he now has hot takes about who the greatest driver of all time is. Email: juan@soleretriever.com