Gabe Filippa

Melbourne

Features Writer at Sneaker Freaker

Writer. ACCLAIM. VICE.

Featured in: Favicon

sneakerfreaker.com Favicon

vice.com

acclaimmag.com

Articles

Colourway Corral: A Complete History of the Air Jordan ‘Black Cat’

1 week ago | sneakerfreaker.com | Gabe Filippa

‘Black Cat’ nickname didn’t come from a marketing team – it came from his peers. Opponents and teammates alike used the term to describe the way MJ moved on the court: silent, calculating, quick to strike. Like a panther stalking its prey, Jordan had a preternatural ability to read defences, anticipate moves, and pounce with surgical precision. His footwork was feline. His instincts were predatory. And when the game was on the line, he always landed on his feet.
The Nike Book 1 ‘Safari’ Is Ready to Run Wild

1 week ago | sneakerfreaker.com | Gabe Filippa

Devin Booker’s first signature silhouette has already made some serious noise, and the next chapter is about to go wild. Enter the Nike Book 1 ‘Safari’ – a primal homage to Tinker Hatfield’s legendary 1987 Air Safari, reimagined through the lens of Booker’s sleek on-court aesthetic. This Book 1 trades muted tones for something far more savage, with bold safari-print overlays stalking across the forefoot, collar, and heel.
Joe Freshgoods Teases New Balance ABZORB 2000

1 week ago | sneakerfreaker.com | Gabe Filippa

Chicago's footwear flavour-maker is back at it with delivering yet another deeply personal project – this time via the all-new ABZORB 2000 silhouette. Teased on social media ahead of Paris Fashion Week, the collaboration is titled ‘Everything Comes From Pink’ and continues Joe’s signature blend of nostalgia and narrative design. Colour-wise, Joe does what he does best: uses pink not just as an aesthetic cue, but an emotional one.
Bind the Breeze: The adidas Climacool 24 Gets Laced

1 week ago | sneakerfreaker.com | Gabe Filippa

First launched in 2002, original line revolutionised athletic footwear with a bold promise: ‘Feel the breeze.’ Built off thermal-imaging data from elite athletes – including – the shoes featured mesh pouches over high-sweat zones for 360-degree airflow and moisture shedding.
Back in Black (and Red): The Nike SB P-Rod 1 ‘Bred’ Rolls Again

1 week ago | sneakerfreaker.com | Gabe Filippa

legendary line with is back on deck to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the P-Rod 1. After launching its OG colourway last month, it looks like the team at are revisiting a second ‘Bred’-style colourway to keep the celebrations rolling. This version stays committed to the original. The upper features a mix of premium suede panels, including black suede on the mudguard, vamp, and eyestays, while a striking, red, perforated-suede Swoosh provides contrast and breathability.
A Digital Shrine to a Legend: The Kobe Vault Swings Open

1 week ago | sneakerfreaker.com | Gabe Filippa

have just unveiled the Vault on the SNKRS app – a curated archive celebrating the full spectrum of Kobe Bryant’s legendary sneaker and apparel legacy. This digital experience offers fans the chance to explore, learn about, and shop iconic silhouettes, colourways, and gear inspired by Kobe’s eternal influence on basketball, style, and culture.
Like Father, Like Son: Deion Jr Scores His Own Diamond Turf

1 week ago | sneakerfreaker.com | Gabe Filippa

The legacy runs deep – and it just added a bold new chapter. Jr, aka ‘Ossacin,’ is stepping into the family lineage with a fresh Air Diamond Turf collaboration that revives a 1993 classic from the vault. This isn’t just any retro – it’s a resurrection of the Nike Air Diamond Turf Proto 92, a little-known prototype that actually predates the launch of Deion Sr’s signature line. First released to the public in May this year, the Proto 92 has flown under the radar for decades – until now.
Beads and Backhands: CLOT Put a New Spin on the adidas Stan Smith

1 week ago | sneakerfreaker.com | Gabe Filippa

and are back at it with a fresh take on the country club classic Teaming up under the banner, Chen has dialled up the detail of OG the Stan Smith with intricate beadwork and a deep ‘Night Navy' palette, giving the legendary tennis shoe a more artistic, fashion-forward spin. Dropping this week via the CONFIRMED app and a handful of retailers, the sneaker takes the clean-cut Stan Smith and flips it on its head.
Strap In for Prime Time: Deion Sanders' Nike Air Diamond Turf 2 ‘Red/Gold’ Returns

1 week ago | sneakerfreaker.com | Gabe Filippa

The is back in the spotlight, and it’s bringing huge Prime Time energy with it. The upcoming OG ‘Red/Gold’ colourway channels the original flash that made this model one of the most iconic multi-sport sneakers of the 1990s – and a perfect match for the one-man highlight reel himself: First hitting shelves in the mid-90s, the Air Diamond Turf 2 was built for the rare breed of athlete who could dominate both the gridiron and the diamond. That breed was basically one man – Deion Sanders.
Caitlin Clark’s Nike Kobe 5 Protro ‘Indiana Fever’ PE Is Hitting Retail

1 week ago | sneakerfreaker.com | Gabe Filippa

isn’t just rewriting box scores – she’s turning up the sneaker volume on the hardwood. Enter the Protro ’Indiana Fever’ PE, now getting a well-deserved retail release that will cement Clark’s fast-rising status in the sneaker world. While Kobe PEs have long been reserved for NBA royalty and Team Mamba insiders, Clark is proving that the next generation of hoopers – and hoopers in the women’s game – deserve their shine. Clark’s Kobe obsession isn’t exactly a secret.