John Kim 
One of the victims of Nike’s cost-cutting, profit-boosting efforts is the shoebox. While we do get treated with the occasional goodie, like the snake-skin graphic on the Kobe VI box, the impressive Air Jordan XI slide-out arrangement, and the nostalgic packaging for the Air Jordan III, but the shoeboxes today just aren’t what they used to be. For those who don’t care so much about the current state of Nike shoebox quality, check out this collection of vintage shoeboxes from the 80’s and early 90’s and you’ll see that not only did Nike place a concerted effort on structural quality, but spent some extended time on the actual design – particularly on kids shoeboxes.
We’ve got shoeboxes modeled after footballs, gym lockers, crayons, and even luxury suitcases, and even the materials used are akin to the type of shoe the box holds, like the thicker, oatmeal-colored variety used on the Nike ACG. Just like the shoes, the actual boxes have become collectors items and have served as design inspirations for special colorways of sneakers, like the Nike Trainer 1 ‘Vintage Box’ (one of 2010’s Top 30 of the year). This is truly a unique visual treat, so check out the gallery of vintage Nike shoeboxes after the jump and let us know which was your favorite! Many thanks to Packer Shoes.
