Fashion’s Fave Kicks Are 34! To Celebrate Nike Intros a New Air Force 1
Today, we celebrate the divine creation of Nike’s hottest-hitter: the Air Force 1. The style is 34 years old, and in its lifetime, Nike has conceived nearly 2,000 iterations of the silhouette— now available in low, mid, and high— and in many, many colors.
The shoe was designed originally for NBA-ers to take the courts with an ‘air technology’ packed in the shoe’s insole, but the style quickly garnered fans in the hip-hop community with songs like “Air Force Ones” by Nelly, which then propelled the sneaker into the mainstream.
The AF1, which typically starts at $140 a pop (except for the 25th anniversary style in crocodile and anaconda leather, adorned with gold-tipped laces for a staggering $2K), has brought in considerable sales over the years: an estimated $800 million per year in revenue. But the most impressive sales have been made online, by “sneaker heads” who have collected the style for years, and in turn, have made some serious dough. Really, who would have thought that a pair of Nike’s could be purchased at major auction houses like Paddle8 with starting bids in the tens of thousands?
Unlike AF1’s 25th birthday, Nike is bringing you the latest anniversary style at a costly cut at $175 (phew). This year, the AF1 will feature Nike’s breathable, lightweight Flyknit material. So comfortable just got really cool— literally.
Since the Flyknit family has been extremely popular for Nike, with instant sell-outs across the board, the AF1 hybrid is sure to be the hottest sneaker of the year.
Here, we take a look back at the ballers, hip-hoppers, and fashionistas who have only fueled the AF1 craze. And as Nelly said, “You gotta have two pairs!”
The AF1 Ultra Flyknit can be purchased via the Techbook app, which will ensure first access. Alternatively, the shoe will be available to the wider public January 28th.
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