Dior’s New B30 Countdown Sneaker Is A Step Forward for Designer Sneakers

Over the last decade or so, the sneaker world has become quite friendly with high fashion. Houses like Dior both draw heavily from classic, everyday trainers and collaborate with big names in the athletic sneaker space (their work with Air Jordan made waves in 2020 and remain some of the most coveted kicks on the market). What once seemed improbable — high fashion houses leaning in and producing their own luxury sneakers — is now a staple of nearly every big name in the industry. Few lead the charge quite like Dior; under the direction of Kim Jones, the French label made sneakers a fundamental part of its business. Now, in the era of Jonathan Anderson, Dior looks to be doubling down. But their latest effort is a swerve in a new direction — even for a house that’s comfortable with rubber and laces.

Dior’s work in the sneaker world so far has explored nearly every corner you can imagine. Their approach is far from conservative, drawing from simple classic trainers and edgier sneaker design alike. In the last few years alone, they’ve relaunched the 2004 classic Dior B01 Matchpoint sneaker, an homage to classic tennis shoes, invited groundbreaking modern artist KAWS to freak up a pair of kicks, and drawn from the world of skate shoes on the B9S silhouette. The one field they haven’t quite dared to touch is the same one that often feels off-limits for most fashion houses: modern athletic trainers, shoes designed for performance over aesthetic. Fashion is, after all, about aesthetics.

That all changes with the Dior B30, the house’s latest sneaker endeavour. It’s one that aims to truly break the mold, charging headfirst into proper modern performance tech and interpreting that design sensibility through the Dior vision. Available in a wide array of colourways, the B30 doesn’t sacrifice on the quality you’d expect from anything with Dior’s name on it. The silhouette’s upper is composed of cutting-edge technical mesh and fabric, allowing for movement and durability. The bubbly sole is a blend of rubber and foam, offering both support and cushioning.

The shape of the silhouette isn’t dissimilar to something you’d find on the shelves of a New Balance store, but these have a distinct and modern design language in the blocking of colour and pattern on the upper and the groovy CD logo that adorns the side. The shoes look great, that’s true — but they can hold their own when put up to a field test. Unlike most Dior sneakers, these are meant to be worn hard, on treadmills and weight rooms and hiking trails. Who says you can’t wear designer while working up a sweat?

With their latest sneaker endeavour, Dior properly breaks through a tricky barrier. They’ve passed the test with flying colours. Now, the only question is whether they’ll lean further in this direction. Might we see a Dior running shoe at the New York Marathon next year? A weight room shoe perfect for Crossfit heads? There’s no telling where the house’s next step will land. Wherever it does, we’ll be excited to lace up the result.

Discover the Dior B30 online.

FEATURE PHOTO: DIOR B30 EDITORIAL SHOOTING BY ADRIEN DUBOST.