A sneak-peek at the sneaker of the year.

Sneakers sit at the zenith of fashion. They’re the most talked-about items of clothing and everybody seems to wear them. Look at the front row of almost any fashion show these days and you’re more likely to see a wealth of coveted creps than formal leather shoes. Decry the  dearth of the latter if you wish, but it’s hard to oversell the charm of sneakers, especially when they’re at the centre of so much cultural buzz. From Balenciaga’s heavyweight Triple S model to Off-White’s 3.0 , there are certain sneakers that steer the conversation. The latest to do so is Nike’s much-hyped React Element 87, which is about to hit the market.

Supported by exclusive imagery created for MR PORTER in partnership with Nike – styled by Mr Stephen Mann and photographed by Ms Sirui Ma – the React Element 87 launch is pegged to be one of the season’s most exciting. Read on to find out more and, more importantly, how you can get your hands on a pair.

First, some technical details. The React Element 87 is crafted from Nike’s revolutionary shock-absorbent and lightweight React foam technology in the midsole, while the upper is made from a translucent shell material and finished with trail-running laces. It’s pegged as a shoe that’s perfect for moving around the city. By combining the chunky sneaker trend and upgrading it with an edgily futuristic look and the practical comfort of the cushioned sole, it’s a sneakery triumph of style and substance. Or, to put it in simpler terms, it looks great and it’s super comfortable. The sneaker made its unofficial debut at Paris Fashion Week in March at Mr Jun Takahashi’s Undercover show, but hasn’t been available to buy until, well, rather soon.

The sneaker will be available to purchase on MR PORTER from 6.00am GMT on Thursday 21 June (unless you’re in the US, in which case you’ll have to wait until 13 July) and will retail at £135 ($160).

As with anything that sends the sneakerheads’ hype radar haywire (as the React Element 87 already has), it’s important, should you want to invest, to do so as early as possible after they go live. So, set your iPhone alarms. As they say on Planet Sneakerhead, cop early to avoid disappointment.

Keep up to date with The Daily by signing up to our weekly email roundup. Click here to update your email preferences.