What Kyrie Irving is adding to sneaker culture- The ANTA Hélà Roots series

As the Dallas Mavericks quickly adjust to the newest member of their roster, Anthony Davis, being added to the squad at the deadline in a major swap with their former superstar, Luka Doncic, the man at the head of the team remains to be Kyrie Irving. With veteran and championship experience in the NBA, Irving looks to lead the Mavs into a championship-winning season for the first time since landing on the Dallas roster in 2023. In the midst of what some might see as a chaotic time in the NBA, Irving has the task at hand that was just mentioned while also using his talents in the footwear space to help come up with one of the more unique styles going on today.

Irving has partnered with Foot Locker to join in on the annual sneaker drops during NBA All Star Weekend.

Kyrie Irving will release new styles of the KAI 1 and Hélà silhouettes exclusively with Foot Locker during the All-Star break. Being cautious of both hoopers and casual wearers, number 11 has something in store for both when the drop occurs. The ANTA KAI 1 Speed will be a traditional basketball shoe for those interested in some new shoes for the court. With a color combination of mainly white and silver along with splashes of orange and green, the silver and white base helps add structure to the sneaker and keeps it grounded.

For casual wear comes the ANTA Hélà releasing in 3 colorways, allowing for some choices to be made within the buyer. This is a shoe that is all sorts of unique and adds something to the current sneaker market that throws together the style of a casual sneaker you might find familiar in Vans but mixed with the loud design choice of a unique set of laces that take on an identity of its own. Containing a suede upper and fat sole bottom, I genuinely like these because they are so different and have their look compared to most sneakers you see on the market right now. Dropping in brown, black, and white/grey assortments, the rainbow laces make a statement and add excitement to the shoe. 

With the release of the ANTA Hélà and the style choices presented, I feel more sneaker brands will see the possible success of Irving's vision and will branch out to create more styles that add more identity to the sneaker itself and don't just help craft the identity of the wearer. The ANTA Hélà Style Roots Pack will be available starting February 13, 2025, via Foot Locker and the ANTA site, which you can register now for notifications when they drop.