15 best Lunar New Year-themed sneakers of all time

The Lunar New Year, also referred to as the "Chinese New Year," is quickly approaching. Snake is the next animal in the lunar 12-animal zodiac cycle. The trend of creating holiday-themed sneakers has been adopted by more sneaker labels every year. There have been many failures as well as some excellent executions over the decades. We present 15 of our top picks for sneakers with Chinese New Year themes. Please note, this article is entirely based on the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.

1) Nike women's Air Force 1 '07 lx "Year of the Tiger"

The white, orange, red, and blue color scheme can alter one's view of what this model is capable of. The idea is realized with the tiger pattern on the tongue and swoosh. When worn together, the simple can appease the superior thanks to an embroidered image of an animated tiger on the side heel.

2) Reebok Pump Omni Lite "Year of the Ox" edition

Reebok was bold with the positioning of the patterns on this sneaker. The pair adds a touch of culture to a classic silhouette with the Chinese patterns that run over the torso and are accentuated with black and gold. The insole and heel were adorned with the Ox logo. Although the color blocking is straightforward, it is consistent with other pairings that were introduced at this time of year.

3) Jordan 2011 "Year of the Rabbit"

Whether it's the custom cushioning system, the fortune box these arrive in, or the bags each sneaker comes with, these shoes have enough status to truly make them stand out. This pair is a good investment because of its clean lines that match the white, and its textured side panels and speckled outsoles give it a sophisticated appearance.

4) Stussy x Vans Sk8-Hi "Snake"

It would have been surprising to find a business without a snakeskin pattern ready for 2013 given the widespread use of animal material prints. The tongue tag included snake shapes, like the iconic double-S Stussy emblem, and the midsole featured the reptile. "Year of the Snake" in the Van Sk8 script is stitched onto the heel, tying the pair together. The red Jazz stripe and waffle outsole finish the ensemble.

5) Nike Dunk High "Year Of The Pig"

It's difficult to overlook how vivid these are, especially since Perfect Pink is embroidered throughout the suede and leather top. The pig face logo and Chinese vector pattern graphics on the back panel are really bold. This pink pair would have complemented its zodiac year perfectly even without those accents.

6) Nike Air Force 1 Low "Year of the Rabbit"

The opaque white goes well as a candy complement, while the clear outsole and faux bunny fun swooshes evoke the cuddly rabbit. Although the color selection makes this a sought-after pair, the Chinese character and symbol of a rabbit on the heel complement the recurring theme Nike has used with these launches.

7) Nike Air Max 1 Premium "Year Of The Ox"

With this iteration of the iconic runner, Nike chose to use the lucky colors of Chinese culture, which include pink, brown, and hints of gold. In keeping with this year's theme, an ox adorns the heel, and the phrase "perseverance" is inscribed on the tongue in yellow Chinese characters.

8) 574 "Year of the Snake"

New Balance released four 574 models for the Year of the Snake that year; the other models had snake uppers and white midsoles and were solid colored. However, the feature that stood out from the rest was the multi-color choice. This is the best because of the rainbow tracing and hexagonal snakeskin outline. To finish the motif, snakeskin leather is also used on the ankle liner and the "N" logo.

9) Wildwood 90 Free Trail Premium 'Year of the Rat'

This weird sneaker's upper is made of laser-cut leather and fake fur hair. You can tell what year this was made for, thanks to the custom insoles and the Chinese character Rat imprinted on the back of the sneaker. Together with the various materials and prints, red and pink combine to create the shoes' distinctive look.

10) Nike KD4 Year of the Dragon 2.0

In honor of the Year of the Dragon, Kevin Durant applied these eye-catching cosmetics to his fourth signature sneaker. The strap's dragon scales are its most notable feature. Given Durant's DC roots, the blue dragon is a fitting symbol in Chinese culture as the guardian of the East. Each player has received the Chinese New Year treatment, which is not surprising given the NBA's increasing promotion of culture these days.

11) Nike SB Dunk High Chinese New Year (CNY)

In 2014, Nike SB decided to celebrate the festival in a big way rather than just honoring the zodiac animal. The opaque, speckled outsole complements the red suede uppers with a gold-highlighted Swoosh. The little red envelopes that are passed around over the holiday are a fantastic fit with the theme.

12) Air Jordan 7 Retro "Year Of The Rabbit"

These sneakers have enough prestige to truly elevate them, whether it's the fortunate box they come in or the bags each one comes in. The clean lines that complement the white make this a great pair to own, and the textured side panels with speckled outsoles give it a sophisticated appearance.

13) Adidas T-MAC 1 "Year of the Snake"

Featuring a black-offset metallic blue snakeskin covering the upper. The reflecting metallic snakeskin exhibits a yellow tinge that is quite similar to a real snake, therefore the straightforward color pattern should not be taken lightly. This pair is energetic due to the gold-drawn, strong lines.

14) Nike Air Force 1 "Horse"

Nike provided these versions to accommodate sneakerheads' varying tastes, with two distinct releases that mirrored the fervor around Air Force 1s at the time. Nike supplied elegance whether you were looking for iridescent uppers with a clear outsole or traditional color blocking with basic logos and Chinese characters.

15) Air Force 1 Premium "Year Of The Rooster"

This pair matched the more traditional theme with its off-white upper and clear yellow outsole. In Chinese mythology, the Rooster is seen as elegant and poignant. Because of the soft hues and high-quality materials used, this pair gained popularity despite its modest beginnings.