When we talk about the Nike sneakers’ Air Force 1, we usually think about the design launched in the 80s and focused on basketball. Since that, those shoes have kept their hallmark, changing slightly their designs or colours, but they have always been at the vanguard of fashion trends. It is possible to find the AF1 in three different heights: low-top, mid-top and high-top. Moreover, its name makes reference to the plane that usually transports the president of the United States back then, called the Air Force One.
Nowadays, we usually connect the sneakers Air Force 1 with an informal and characteristic style, maybe for trap singers or teenagers. However, the times are changing and nowadays it is common to see some Nike’s designs at the catwalks of haute couture or, even, collaborations between Nike and a recognised fashion designer. That makes the traditional design of Air Force 1 a sneaker much more exclusive and, as a result, more expensive.
That makes the traditional design of Air Force 1 a sneaker much more exclusive and, as a result, more expensive
NIKE X ALYX STUDIO
One example of those collaborations would be the Nike Air Force One Hi from 1017 Alyx 9SM. These sneakers consist of a cooperation between Nike, with its traditional design AF1, and the Californian brand Alyx Studio, which creative director is the British fashion designer Matthew Williamson. This collaboration offers four differents designs of Air Force 1 high-top, but all follow a pattern and that is the combination of the colours black and white. That is to say, you can find the sneakers all white or black, or black with the swoosh in white, or vice versa.
As well, to make them more exclusive, the sneakers have a buckle so characteristic to Alyx Studio. Also, in the side of the shoe the name “1017 Alyx 9SM” colored in gold to keep the elegance of the brand.
NIKE X SUPREME
Another cooperation that also drives crazy to sneaker addicts is the one between Nike and the New York brand Supreme. Their last collaboration was brought on sale the last March 5th. It is not surprising that the products put on sale by Supreme run out online as well as in the shops. This is because of its business model: high demand and low supply. That makes having a Supreme’s garment an utopia that only a few can achieve.
This cooperation created a sneaker which was a reinvention of the customaries Air Force 1 low-top in just two colours: black and white. However, the Air Force 1 Supreme also combine these colours with the Supreme’s corporative colour: the sneakers have the red logo of Supreme, which is also found at the red or black shoelaces.
High demand and low supply
NIKE X TRAVIS SCOTT
Additionally, one of the most sought-after Nike collaborations in the last years has been the one with Travis Scott. We all know Travis as an American rap singer, but what everybody don’t know is that he is such a fashion streetwear enthusiast and, especially, a sneaker lover. It is what makes him to be a fashion referent.
Travis Scott has participated with Nike in the creation of many designs of Air Force 1, but one of the most successful was the collaboration with the Air Jordan design. It was in 2019 when Travis launched two pairs of Air Jordan 1 sneakers in high and low-top just turning inside out the swoosh. It made this launch as one of the most valued of the market in that time. All of this launched behind Travis Scott’s brand called “Cactus Jack”.
However, why the sneakers designed by Travis Scott are so successful? It might be said that it is because of his unconditional love to this type of shoes and the culture he is associated with. But what really make them successful and characteristic is that Travis manages to summarise many prints and materials in the same shoe.
In relation to the Air Force 1 designed by Travis Scott we find his last launches, which are sold out at the official Nike website. In these designs we can observe that the changes are focused on the swoosh: one with fire print, another one totally metallic or one with dragon scales. The rest of the sneaker is simpler and follows the traditional white design with the exception of the seam. These details make everyone stand out who wears them wherever.
NIKE X DIOR
Moreover, we find another exclusive collaboration and so desired by the ones obsessed with fashion: the cooperation between Dior and Nike to create the Air Jordan 1 by Dior. This launched was planned for early April, but it has been postponed because of the global paralysation caused by the Coronavirus. Both brands haven´t said the date yet, but the shoes are expected to be so successful as they have been googled more than 60 million times.
This model of sneakers will be sold in a selection of the large Dior’s shops in all over the world. Moreover, the shoes consist of a design that is characteristic of the French brand: they consist in the traditional Air Jordan 1 high-top but combining the colour white with the called “grey Dior”. That colour can be seen at the sides and the edges. Also, the emblem of the sports brand, which is the “Jumpman Wings”, appears at the side next to the words “Air Dior”.
The Air Jordan 1 by Dior which will be soon available
Concurrently, to the surprise of this cooperation they add t-shirts, sweatshirts, bermuda shorts or even the recognisable bomber jacket MA-1, and also the low-top version of the Air Jordan 1 High OG Dior, which is alike but with the short leg.
With all of these collaborations of the Nike Air Force 1 and the Air Jordan with international brands and singers, we can see that they are a design which don’t stop reinventing according to the demand and the social characteristics at the moment of the launch. With all of this Nike takes a stance in the market in spite of keeping the same design since the 80s. Furthermore, this 2020 would be, perhaps, a great year for the sports brand because of the Dior’s cooperation.