Ironically, This USPS-Themed Nike Air Force 1 Will Be Shipped With UPS

Michael Le May 25th, 2021 (updated)

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The Nike Air Force 1 Experimental “USPS” is neither licensed nor otherwise authorized by the U.S. Postal Service.

The Nike Air Force 1 Experimental is — for the lack of a better term — experimental. Since its introduction, the silhouette has lived up to its namesake in construction and colorway, the latter often delving into rather unique inspirations. Here, this continues for the better as the upper colors to celebrate what everyone loves to hate: the United States Postal Service.

If you deal in sneakers, then you know the post office quite well. And it should be obvious that the pair draws heavily from the Priority Mail boxes many opt for. The foam-adhered shell, a feature carried over from past iterations, is dyed a neutral off-white, somewhat matching the tyvek slips that reside on the same shelves as the aforementioned. Elsewhere, the midsole and laces dress white, contrasting the pale blues that touch up the tongue, lining, and tread. Though not exact references to the act of shipping itself, these shades complement the darker blues that pull straight from the USPS logo. What’s more, the heel offers its own overt nods: a sticker styled like the signature mailing labels.

For a better look, see the images below. A release should hit Nike.com and possibly select retailers soon.

In other news, the Jordan 1 University Blue is releasing tomorrow.

UPDATE 5/25/2021:
The release date has been postponed to July 14th.

UPDATE 5/7/2021:
USPS and Nike have officially come to an agreement. In an official statement, USPS stated the following:

“The U.S. Postal Service and NIKE, Inc. are pleased to announce they have come to a resolution on the upcoming release of Nike footwear inspired by the U.S. Postal Service. The Experimental Nike Air Force 1 footwear are officially licensed by the U.S. Postal Service. Any early images of this shoe were not authorized for release by Nike.”

UPDATE 4/1/2021:
USPS shared a statement regarding the Air Force 1 Experimental “USPS” colorway

“The Postal Service, which receives no tax dollars for operating expenses an relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations, protects its intellectual property. Officially licensed products sold in the marketplace expand the affinity for the Postal Service brand and provide incremental revenue through royalties that directly support it. Sales of unauthorized and unlicensed products deny support to the hardworking women and men of the Postal Service.

This is an unfortunate situation where a large brand such as Nike, which aggressively protects its own intellectual property, has chosen to leverage another brand for its own gain. The Postal Service is disappointed in Nike’s lack of response to repeated attempts to come to a solution. The Postal Service will take whatever actions it deems necessary to protect its valuable IP rights.”