May the Force (4th) be with you

Star Wars Day is celebrated on May 4th every year, as a play on the famous quote "May The Force Be With You," spoken by Jedi Master in George Lucas' Star Wars media franchise. It's a day when fans all around the world come together to commemorate this iconic space opera franchise.

Did you know that Star Wars has also left an indelible imprint on the sneaker world? In celebration of International Star Wars Day, let's take a look back at some of the best sneakers and hype culture moments inspired by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg's mega-hit film.

Let's kick things off with a little introduction in the form of, “Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away…”

1. Star Wars x Bape

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Bape and Star Wars collaborated to create an apparel and figure collection that merged classic Bape motifs with Star Wars branding and posters. The collection included a Baby Milo rendition of iconic Star Wars characters like Han Solo, Greedo, Chewbacca, and Cloud City.

2. Star Wars x Be@rBricks

Medicom and Star Wars have collaborated multiple times to create limited edition runs of themed Be@rbricks. These adorable and prized renditions of Ewoks, Darth Vader, C-3PO, Sith Trooper, and Kylo Ren mostly come in both the 100% and 400% sizes.

3. Nike Dunk High ‘Stormtrooper’

These sneakers aren’t an officially licensed Star Wars collaboration, but the black-and-white colorway of high Dunks was a clear nod to the iconic Stormtrooper, making it a must-have for any Star Wars fan.

4. Adidas Stan Smiths – Yoda Collection

The latest addition to Adidas’ Star Wars collection, the Yoda collection captures the Jedi Master on the sustainable version of the classic Adidas silhouette. The Yoda makes his appearance on the archetypal green heel tab, and the Jedi Master’s famous words of wisdom, “There Is No Try” and “Do or Do Not,” have been added to the shoe’s lateral sides.

5. C3PO & R2D2 x Adidas Top Ten

Paying tribute to the lovable robotic duo in Star Wars, the mismatched sneakers are split in half, with one side in metallic gold representing C-3PO and the other side in white-blue representing R2-D2.

6. Adidas NMD R1 ‘Yoda’

This sneaker has a green colorway, with a green line running down the middle of the front of the shoe. It also features a Star Wars tag in front of the lace and the Adidas and Star Wars logos on the insole.

7. Adidas Alphaedge 4D Star Wars Death Star

This silhouette of an Alphaedge 4D dubbed Death Star is a perfect reflection of the technological progress represented in the Star Wars universe. Its mesh midsole is 3D printed using data from years of research conducted in collaboration with professional athletes.

So there you have it, the top seven Star Wars-inspired sneakers and collectibles/apparel that every fan needs in their collection. Happy Star Wars Day!