Ever since its first Jordan Brand collaboration in the spring of 2021âan ultra-clean spin on the Air Jordan 3âthe Washington, DC-based sneaker boutique A Ma Maniére has been a brand to watch. Part of the Whitaker Group (which also includes stores like the esteemed Social Status), AMM has prioritized strong storytelling and design perspective across a grip of standout takes on classic Air Jordans and a selection of killer Nike collabs. A penchant for quilted linings, rich shades of violet and maroon, and creamy neutrals have made Maniére joints some of the most coveted among sneakerheads over the last few years. Thereâs also a big-picture focus on social awareness backed up with tangible action; for the brandâs Air Jordan 4 collab in 2022, they gave priority access to buyers who could prove they were registered to vote in that yearâs midterm election.
As the brandâs relationship with Nike and Jordan Brand has grown, it has all but cemented itself as one of the current eraâs signature Swoosh collaborators. This month, that status is made official in a big way with the release of the While You Were Sleeping collection, celebrating a decade since the brandâs first Nike sneaker. Spanning six pairs across three brands (Nike, Jordan, and Converse), the collectionâs first drop is another stunner of an Air Jordan 3. This one trades the simple white upper of the first collaboration for a jet black leather accented with buttery gray and a deep violet tongue and quilted inner lining. Throw in an off-white sole and youâve got a sneaker that draws together all of the signature flourishes youâd expect from A Ma Maniére.
The collection doesnât stop there, though. Over the next few weeks weâll also be seeing a beige Air Jordan 4 and speckled violet Air Jordan 39 hit shelves alongside a new Air Force 1 and the brandâs first take on an Air Max model in the Air Max 95. The whole thing is capped off with Maniéreâs first-ever Converse linkup, a take on the Weapon Low silhouette.
There are collections and there are coronations. This is the latter. While You Were Sleeping is the largest Nike collaboration since Off-Whiteâs now-legendary The Ten. Virgil Ablohâs instantly-recognizable deconstructions of some of Nikeâs most iconic silhouettes upended the sneaker world and instantly defined the culture of the moment when it began back in 2017. Since his passing, thereâs been a void in need of filling. Ablohâs work is irreplaceable, but in its absence Nike has needed the sort of big-name collaborator that commands the attention of the culture and signifies the direction in which itâs moving. Given the way Maniéreâs collaborations with Nike have captured the zeitgeist for years now, it makes sense theyâre taking their relationship to the next level with the While You Were Sleeping launch.