Nike Air Force 1

Created by designer Bruce Kilgore, Nike Air Force 1 shoes first hit the sneaker scene in ’82. Their release marked the debut of Nike Air Force cushioning, a revolutionary technology that provided additional support and comfort beneath the sole. It’s no surprise, then, that professional NBA players, including six of biggest names at the time, were lining up to give these performance-focused trainers a try on the basketball court. In the early days of the AF1, they were conceived as high tops, but later models branched out to low and mid styles, available across multiple colourways, such as white, black, pink, and blue. Today, you will find a variety of celebrity figures wearing Air Force 1s, from Drake to Bella Hadid.

07 LV8

The Air Force 1 LV8 takes the iconic sneaker and mixes and matches materials for standout results. The LV8s consist of solid leather uppers with various types of textile detailing to the toes and sidewalls for a contrast look and feel. The textile offers a breathable switch up while retaining all the essential elements of the OG silo.

Low and Mid Tops

The Air Force 1 low sneaker was released in 1983 (one year after the high top), catching the attention of the sneakerhead community and being presented as a casual alternative to the original. Production of the AF1 low ended in ’84 at the end of its year lifecycle, but the demand was so great that Nike eventually caved and brought back the sneaker in ’86. In the late ’90s, the sneaker became a symbol of the everyday hustler, admired in equal part for their design and comfort. Idolised by some of the biggest rap artists, the adoption by the hip-hop community took the low to new heights. It remains the most popular version of the sneaker to date.

High Tops

The high-top version of the AF1 was the original design released in ’82. With a focus on performance, Nike were targeting the basketball market. It was Bruce Kilgore’s first attempt at a basketball silo, bringing with it several innovations that placed it ahead of typical basketball sneakers—because of the cut of the tread, it provided more flexibility than most while also introducing the now quintessential, circular outsole, which allowed players to manoeuvre more easily without losing grip.