Everything you need to know about Nike Air Force One, streetwear icon
Air Force One, Air Force 1, AF1. Whatever you want to call it, everyone knows the most famous, loved and sold model in the history of the Swoosh. But how...
Air Force One is the best-selling and best-known iconic sneaker in Nike history.
Air Force One, Air Force 1, AF1. Whatever you want to call it, everyone knows the most famous, loved and sold model in the history of the Swoosh. But how did the legend of the AF1 begin and how did it become the street style icon it is today?
Air Force One is not only the name of the most requested Nike sneaker ever, it is also the radio callsign given to any US Air Force plane with the President of the United States of America on board in the event of a terrorist attack.
Air Force 1 - The beginning of the footwear legend
In 1982 Bruce Kilgore , the same designer who also created the Shock Racer and the Air Jordan II, began to think about a sneakers model that might be suitable for playing basketball , both indoors and outdoors.
What Kilgore had in mind was a sneaker resistant but stylish , capable of tolerating impacts and allowing players not to slip during basketball games.
After creating the first prototype, he rented a van and began touring all the colleges in the United States. He needs feedback, he says, he wants to understand what the real needs of basketball players are.
What emerges after a few months is the Nike Air Force One produced for the first time in the United States. This sneaker, today, can be considered a global streetwear icon.
Probably, even if you are not a sneakerhead, you have owned (desired) at least one in your life and, perhaps, it is still in your shoe rack. But have you ever wondered how a shoe has resisted the constant changes in fashion so well? Think about it, no other sneaker has been available in so many colorways without losing ass olutely nothing of its initial design.
A classic and timeless silhouette it's a super resistant upper . The first testimonials were the " Original Six " namely: Michael Cooper, Moses Malone, Calvin Natt, Jamaal Wilkes, Bobby Jones and Mychal Thompson.
The first version of the Air Force One was the " high top " one with ankle protection ideal for basketball players. Subsequently, the other two versions were also produced: “ mid top ” (ankle height) and “ low ” (low).
Cindarella Shop, the shop that changed the fate of the AF1
In reality, the success of the Air Force One is due to two resellers from Baltimore who saved them from the oblivion into which they were ending up when Kilgore designed the Air Force Two in 1984.
Nike was thinking of stopping the production of the Air Force One, but the owners of “ Cinderella Shoes ” placed a huge order of around 3000 pairs. All the sneakerheads people in Baltimore went crazy for Air Force Ones. In a short time they became not only super trendy but also a symbol of hip hop culture and streetwear.
There was no need to do much marketing on this model of sneakers so much so a commercial never aired on television , in fact, for a limited period of time, Nike prohibited retailers from putting them online because there were so many fakes going around.
The evolution of the Nike AF1
There have been approximately 2000 Air Force One models made to date.
From '84 onwards the AF1s were produced in many colorways and in three models: high, top and mid .
Since 2000, feminine models and more eccentric colorways have also arrived.
In 2007 the Lux version was released, made of crocodile leather , 24k gold laces and completely handmade, sold for around 2000 dollars, for true hypebeasts .
Biggest Air Force One collector? DJ Clark Kent owns around 6000 pairs. It seems that he discovered these sneakers at the age of 15 and has been buying one almost a day since then, investing around half a million dollars in Air Force One to date.
In 2010 a documentary was produced: “ Air Force 1: Anatomy of an Urban Legend ” whose narrator Krs-One tells how in a very short time this sneaker, which was worn only by NBA basketball players, arrived in Baltimore and Harlem. Several rappers have dedicated verses of their songs to the Air Force 1, perhaps by grouping them all together we could even create an album. 
To this day, Air Force One continues to be a super trendy shoe.
Here you can find both the most classic models and the new releases. Discover them all by visiting our online shop.
