Nike’s Luxe Leather Air Force 1 Is a Beautifully Aged Throwback
No matter how little you know about sneakers, the chances are you recognize the Nike Air Force 1.
This undeniably iconic model is ubiquitous, found in sneaker stores of every ilk, worn by people from all walks of life, and constantly being imitated.
In honor of the indelible mark the shoe has left on the footwear industry, Nike is launching the Air Force 1 '07 LV8 'Since 1982' Sunset, a luxe leather throwback to the OG Air Force 1. And it has a beautiful build worthy of celebrating such a legendary shoe.
Designed to recreate the charm of an aged, vintage sneaker, this Air Force 1 has a brown leather upper with a worn-in patina. Plus, a retro-looking tab on the tongue pointing to the shoe's year of inception, features a brown gradient as if it’s been sun-dyed from years of wear.
It’s a brilliantly accomplished new makeover, delivering a premium leather look normally reserved for more formal footwear.
And this swanky new fabrication is delivered at only a marginally higher price point than your regular Air Force 1, available now for $132 via a ballot at the Italian retailer Urbanstar.
A wider release, through Nike and more retailers, is expected to follow next month.
Going against the philosophy of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” Nike has been delivering a barrage of experimentally upgraded Air Force 1s of late.
Whether it be Carbon fiber fabric, gloriously textured suede, or turning the sneaker into a hard-wearing skate shoe, the classic AF1 comes in more flavors than ever before.
Even its most iconic plain white variation isn’t safe from Nike’s experimentation.
