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THE LAUNCH OF NIKE AIR FORCE 1
Keep your feet forever fresh in a pair of Nike Air Force Ones. It’s a Nike shoe that needs no introduction. Beloved by footwear fanatics and casual wearers alike, Nike Air Force 1 trainers have been going strong for over four decades, in huge part thanks to the iconic White(-on-White) Nike Air Force 1 Low — one of the rare sneakers to graduate from short-lived trend to wardrobe staple. We’re talking about one of the best-selling shoes of all time here, and one that’s inspired multiple copycats and shoes paying homage to the OG since its release.
THE ORIGINAL NIKE AIR FORCE 1 – SIMPLY PERFECTION
As with so many iconic sneakers, the Nike Air Force 1 shoe started life on the basketball court, with the first pair of Air Force 1 high tops dropping in 1982. This was the first time that cushioning had appeared in a hoops shoe, giving it a uniquely chunky sole. In white and gray, it was understated, but a variety of colorways and a low-top option followed when the AF1 hit retail stores in 1983, boosting their popularity and starting a frenzy of footwear tourism as their cult status spread up and down the East Coast, from Baltimore via Interstate 95 to D.C. and New York. Nike marketing was inspired and minimal, as word of the shoe spread like wildfire among inner city Black communities. The emergence of the legendary all-white, all-leather low top is poorly documented and something of a mystery, but this enigmatic shoe quickly became a strong seller. It saw an overseas rollout around 1994, and the fresh white-on-white phenomenon began to take hold in the emerging grime scene in London too. Shout outs from hip hop artists, such as Jay-Z, further popularized them across America, and in 2002, Nelly dedicated an entire song and music video to the model with the release of “Air Force Ones.”
NIKE AIR FORCE ONES: STILL A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH
Over 40 years later, the celebrated white-on-white Nike Air Force 1 trainers still have staple status, but there are now countless variations to choose from. The Foot Locker Air Force 1 collection alone has almost 150 models of Nike shoes for men, women, and kids, including — of course — the forever fresh classic. With a range of color combinations and both Air Force 1 high tops and lows, carve out a bit of time to study the selection and find out which version suits you.