West NYC has teamed up with adidas for a collection celebrating the 85th anniversary of their sister store, Tip Top Shoes—a long-standing fixture of Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Comprised of two footwear styles, the collection pays homage to Tip Top Shoes’ rich legacy, while also looking toward the future as New York City’s last full-service, sit-and-fit shoe store.
The collection’s SL 72 RS features a heritage-inspired design, adorned with details commonly found on wingtip oxfords, paying homage to the footwear that Tip Top Shoes carried when it first opened in 1940 (on 72nd Street, no less) and still offers to this day. Key features include burgundy nylon uppers, pinked edges on both the matching suede overlays and the off-white Three Stripes, and perforations on the stripes as well. The insoles read “your feet are in good hands” which is Tip Top Shoes’ tagline, while the inside of the tongue reads “toes go in first”—what old-school shoe dogs mean when they say “TGIF.”
Meanwhile, the women’s Handball Spezial is a more playful, fashion-forward offering, featuring a bouclé knit upper that draws inspiration from suits worn by patrons of Tip Top Shoes in the ’80s and ’90s. “West Side” and “Best Side,” embroidered in gold across the heel tabs, pay homage to the neighborhood Tip Top Shoes and West NYC call home.
The collection is presented alongside a campaign video starring NYC natives Mister Mort and David Roffé of Old Jewish Men fame. Mort is seen pulling shoes from various footwear brands out of a duffel bag for Dave to choose from, only for him to reject them all and go with the West NYC x adidas SL 72. This video concept mirrors the adidas AE 1 ad starring Anthony Edwards that released ahead of the debut of his first signature shoe.
View this post on Instagram
To kick off the 85th anniversary celebration, West NYC and adidas Cornerstone Community are hosting an invite-only launch party on April 24th, featuring a live DJ set from musical duo Nina Sky.
To pay it forward to others in the footwear space, a portion of the proceeds from the collection will be donated to the Two Ten Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering workers in the footwear industry.
The West NYC x adidas Tip Top Shoes 85th Anniversary collection drops April 26th at West NYC and Tip Top Shoes, as well as on westnyc.com and tiptopshoes.com. Check out both pairs below.
West NYC x adidas SL 72 RS “85th Anniversary”
Style Code: JQ0989
Release Date: April 26, 2025
Price: $120 USD
Resell: StockX
West NYC x adidas Handball Spezial “85th Anniversary”
Release Date: April 26, 2025
Price: $130 USD
Resell: StockX
