Nike Air Force 1

Simply put, the Nike Air Force 1 is by far one of the Beaverton brand’s most lauded silhouettes. Bruce Kilgore’s original design first took flight in 1982, and it isn’t running out of fuel anytime soon.

Originally, the AF1 was inspired by hiking shoes, but it eventually opted for a functional, basketball-ready guise. This defining silhouette was also the first Nike basketball trainer to offer a full-length Air-injected sole unit – a technology that would continue to innovate its own and Jordan trainers.

Originally arriving in either a low or high-top option, the latter was fitted with a strap up top to provide a secure fit and prevent any ankle injuries during wear. Named after the President of America’s private plane, this shoe offered both protection and flight.

While basketball functionality was its humble origins, the Air Force 1 become a grail item for the hip hop scene in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Basketball culture is often aligned with hip hop, and therefore, the music scene was essentially a global marketing scheme for the shoe. For example, Nelly released an iconic ‘Air Force Ones’ track, hyping the silhouette to the world.

Often seen in the East Coast Metropolises of the USA, the comfy and crisp trainer suited the energy of inner-city living. The trainer is especially important to the city of Baltimore; when Nike was planning to stop producing the shoe in ’84, the residents helped it live on. The community was later rewarded in 2017 with a “For Baltimore” release that pays homage to their efforts which essentially helped it live on to become a classic.

Today, Nike Air Force 1 releases are plentiful; the silhouette has stood the test of time, mainly due to its standalone style and canvas built for creativity. Whether that comes in the form of an experimental colour-up or a lauded collab, it always seems to make a bold statement. From collaborations with the likes of Supreme, atmos, Playstation and Travis Scott, there are plenty of rare releases for serious trainer collectors. Versatile, classic, and eternally influential – pick out a new AF1 today.