The collab: Pierre Hardy for Gap
When: Ongoing from 2007 until spring 2011
Why: Gap quietly launched this collab with Pierre Hardy, who had designed shoes for the likes of Balenciaga, Hermes, and Dior prior to launching his own line. Word started to spread and the shoes, always limited edition, became an eBay staple. The frenzy peaked with that stellar black, open-toe wedge bootie from fall 2010. (We still own, wear, and shine that shoe–and it still gets us compliments on the subway).