John Kim 
It’s strange how sneakers mature in accordance with age in a human-like manner. When the Nike Air Force 1 debuted thirty years ago, it was considered to be a revolutionary basketball shoe, giving birth to a new era of Air-infused performance basketball shoes. When the AF1 hit the ‘teens, it became a staple in the wardrobe of the younger cats who were interested in looking fresh at all times. In the 2000’s, when the Air Force 1 entered adulthood, sneaker connoisseurs treated the Air Force 1 like a fine wine, distinguishing one from another by age, taste, design, and materials, making the Air Force 1 as much of a collectible item as it was a wearable shoe. So what’s in store for the Nike Air Force 1, now that it’s thirty years old? Will we see a continuance of the crazy collaborations that we saw in its 20’s, or will the Air Force 1 take a more lifestyle approach, emphasizing the use of lux materials and the grown-up appeal? Then again, is there even a purpose behind pointing out the age of something immortal?
We’ll find out soon enough what 2012 will mean for the Air Force 1, but take it from Vandal-A, who has long since expressed their fandom of sneakers through their line of graphic t-shirts, that the Air Force 1 ‘fiend’ is still alive and well. The latest offering from the brand features the Air Force 1, with inspiration drawn from Eric B. & Rakim’s ‘Don’t Sweat The Technique’ album cover and the classic ‘Microphone Fiend’ track. In addition to this new design, Vandal-A’s also got something great for the Laker fans – an image of a swagged-out fur-coated Magic Johnson from the ’88 All-Star Game, and for the Jordan-heads, a sweatshirt version of the mega-hit Concord Troopers t-shirt that dropped last month. Check out the latest selection from Vandal-A below and hit up the online store to get your own.
