# Cross-Branded Designer Sneakers Kanye West and Louis Vuitton Catapult Street Shoes to the Mainstre By Marissa Brassfield | Published 2009-03-05 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kanye-west-louis-vuitton-sneaker References: [hypebeast](http://hypebeast.com/2009/03/kanye-west-x-louis-vuitton-sneakers-for-june-2009/) & [bkrw](http://www.bkrw.com/news/louis-vuitton-x-kanye-west-sneakers-new-pics.html) Kanye West discusses the negative consequences of choosing fame over family in ‘808s & Heartbreak,’ but the rapperpreneur has shown no signs of slowing down, as you can see from this line of cross-branded sneakers with luxury giant Louis Vuitton. The [Kanye West and Louis Vuitton sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/maison-margiela-x-christian-louboutin) come in a number of different colors, one of which features a bright fluorescent pink sole. They’ll be available in June. This collaboration has been met with mixed reactions from sneaker fanatics, who claim that the line marks the downfall of [underground sneaker culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/concrete-boys-air-force-1) as it is swallowed up into the mainstream. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 67% | Activity: 51% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Designer Sneaker Collaborations:** The trend of collaboration between high-end designers and sneaker brands offers opportunities to bring together different expertise and create unique and desirable products. - **Mainstreaming Underground Culture:** The backlash against the Kanye West and Louis Vuitton collaboration highlights the tension between bringing underground culture into the mainstream and preserving authenticity and exclusivity. Brands could explore innovative ways to balance the two. - **Colorful Soles:** The use of bright, fluorescent colors for the sole of sneakers presents an opportunity for brands to create distinctive and eye-catching products that stand out from traditional designs. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fashion & Luxury:** High-end fashion and luxury brands could explore collaborations with sneaker brands to attract new customers and reach a wider audience. - **Streetwear:** This trend aligns with the growing popularity of streetwear fashion, which incorporates elements of hip-hop and graffiti culture and has become a booming industry in recent years. - **Design & Branding Agencies:** Designers and branding agencies could offer expertise to these collaborations, helping to create unique and cohesive products that appeal to both fashion and sneaker enthusiasts. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Luxe Legacy-Inspired Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/louis-vuitton-7.md) - [Dandyism-Inspired Men's Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lv-buttersoft-sneaker.md) - [High Fashion Workwear Boots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/louis-vuitton-and-timberland.md) - [Couture Technical Sneaker Models](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/juntae-kim.md) - [Collab Fashion Trainers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/valentino-x-vans.md) - [Rapper-Collaborative Textural Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/concrete-boys-air-force-1.md) - [Kiss-Covered Collaboration Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vaquera-x-nike-air-max-dn8.md) - [Luxury Sneaker-Like Snow Boots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/louis-vuitton-lv-trainer-snow-boot.md) - [Sneaker-Converted Dress Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stan-smith-lux.md)