Fashion

How Nike Air Force 1 Sneakers Became a Fashion Icon

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Once again, Nike posted strong sales results in 2022, with first-quarter reported revenues of over $10 billion in the USA alone. Nike is a leader in the footwear industry regarding innovative designs and ever-improving products suited to a wide audience.

Part of Nike’s success hinges on its ability to create versatile sneakers and market them in cooperation with major athletes to maximize their appeal. 

Air Force 1 sneakers are among these iconic brands. Find out how these sneakers became the icon they are today.

The History of Air Force 1 Sneakers

Bruce Kilgore designed this beloved sneaker, and it hit the shelves in 1982. He named it after the U.S. president’s airplane, since it offers both protection and flight. 

After the success of Air technology in the 1970s Nike Air Tailwind, Nike debuted its revolutionary air capsule together with a cup sole in this performance shoe.

It was Kilgore’s first attempt at a basketball shoe, and also boasted the initial slip-lasted construction, which involves pulling the upper tightly over the shoe last before it’s affixed to the shoe.

He tested his design by driving around U.S. colleges and getting basketballers to try out the first samples. 

The shoes met the players’ expectations and after making some adjustments, Nike began an extensive campaign introducing the Air Force 1. Nike handed out a pair of shoes to the top six NBA players of that era, Calvin Natt, Mychal Thompson, Jamaal Wiles, Michael Cooper, Moses Malone, and Bobby Jones.

Known as the Original Six, these players soon put Nike on the map regarding basketball footwear.

Nike withdrew the shoe in 1984, but this prompted such a public outcry that a new version appeared in the shops just two years later. 

Like most Nike sports shoes, the Airforce 1 soon made its way to suburban streets, where it gained a large following among comfort-seeking trendsetters.

The combination of great design, high-profile promotion, and limited availability, meant these sneakers developed a devoted fan base over time. The fact that some of the world’s most famous rappers wore and promoted it, didn’t harm the spread of the shoe’s popularity, either. 

Air Force 1 Sneaker Culture

There’s never been a shortage of hype surrounding this basketball shoe. Nike originally released it as a ‘run’, or limited offering, immediately increasing its desirability and collectability. 

In Harlem, NY on the East Coast, Air Force 1s, known as ‘Uptowns’ became a youth streetwear staple. 

Before long, the Air Force 1 shoe collection, featuring over 2,000 designs, included several noteworthy iterations, such as:

  • The original high-top model
  • The white-on-white Air Force 1 Low, beloved by Jay-Z 
  • A PlayStation collaboration
  • The extremely-limited Louis Vuitton Air Force 1s
  • The Virgil Abloh collaboration
  • Cactus Jack designs by Travis Scott

Other celebrities to join forces with Nike and Air Force 1 include the New England Patriots, CLOT, Kith, and Supreme. It also earned extra points in the realm of pop culture as the inspiration behind Nelly’s best-known hit, ”Air Force Ones”.

The Scarr’s Pizza and Nike collaboration is another highly desirable collection, featuring only 48 pairs of shoes. Another unique idea, the G-Dragon PEACEMINUSONE Para-Noise, wears down over time to reveal G-Dragon’s artwork. 

Inspired by New York professional BMX rider, Nygel Sylvester’s iconic NikeiD Air Force 1s became bestsellers in yet another sport. 

The Air Force 1 became so popular that Reebok had to come up with a knock-off of the design to prevent the Reebok-sponsored Allen Iverson from appearing in public wearing his Air force 1s. 

Air Force 1 Billie is the latest style of this shoe to hit the market, with design touches by Billie Elish. As a nod to her personal style, Elish added five chunky straps to cover the laces on the shoe’s upper.

Laces have always been a way to personalize your Air Force 1s by adding your own colors and lacing style to the design. If you’re interested in more of these ideas, you can find more here.

Nike introduced mismatched lacing on its Air Force 1 Low LX in 2022.

Over the years, Nike has made these shoes in almost every imaginable fabric, as well as some stand-out colors. Silk, snakeskin, patent leather, metallic touches, and unusual colors all feature in Nike’s designs. 

Coupled with limited availability, these shoes suit almost any occasion and appeal to a huge range of collectors. 

The Best Features of the Nike Air Force 1

The Nike Air Force 1 is among the most popular retro shoes available today, thanks to its classic styling that blends into any decade. Both men and women love its simple, clean design, and features, including:

  • Nike Air Capsule
  • A leather upper
  • Lateral and medial swoosh
  • Signature “AIR” text near the rear
  • Metal lace dubraes
  • Perforated toe boxes
  • Soft, cushioned, springy fit

It has come out in all the most fashionable fabrics, like Gore-Tex, Flyknit, Foamposite, and Crater foam. There’s even a lux crocodile version for fans who simply can’t get enough. 

Stepping Out in Fine Style

Despite its initial white-on-white design, this style has grown to include unique versions to suit every taste. From this, it’s clear that a pair of Air Force 1 sneakers deserves the attention of every serious streetwear fashionista.

Thanks to the high demand for Nike Air Force 1s across a broad demographic, it’s now the world’s best-selling sneaker, with new versions released almost every year. The US remains Nike’s biggest market for these shoes, but they’re extremely popular in Asia and Europe, too.

There’s more to a timeless look than a classic pair of sneakers. Browse our blog for the latest trends to enhance your style from the ground up.