A lot of love went into Vaquera's Nike Air Max DN8 sneaker. The New York fashion label clearly cared about its debut Nike collaboration — so much so that Vaquera left smooches all over its Nike runner.

The brand's upcoming shoe looks like someone took a clean white Nike Air Max DN8 and kissed it all over, covering Nike's famously advanced sneaker in red lip prints from the top to the Air-bubbled bottoms.

And voila! The Vaquera Air Maxes were born. Vaquera is in the business of making what it calls "fashion fan faction." It has earned a cult following for its viral shows and campy pieces, which often feature exaggerated details, spicy trompe-l'œil effects, and extreme proportions. Backed by Dover Street Market Paris' incubator program, Vaquera clothes are sold at global Dover Street Market stores and at least partially funded by the global COMME des GARÇONS empire.

Surely, CDG's alignment helped Vaquera land its Nike deal. The smooched-up Air Max DN8s were preceded by Vaquera's pair of slouchy Converse sneaker wedges, which initially brought Vaquera under the Nike umbrella.

After debuting during its Spring/Summer 2026 presentation in September, Vaquera's collaborative Nike Air Max DN8 sneakers are now slated to release on December 12 through Nike's SNKRS app.

The price tag? $220 for the extra-romantic Air Maxes.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit the HS Style Guide for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty