Michael Le As one of Nike’s most important silhouettes, it’s only fitting the Air Force 1‘s 40th birthday receive an appropriate celebration. Thankfully, that’s exactly what it’s expected to get, as we’re soon to see not just collaborations with Stussy and Off-White but also a drove of extremely bold GR offerings. The latest, which highlights the shoe’s mid-top form yet again, draws inspiration from the “UENO PANDA,” modeling the upper in said Dunk’s very image.
Through the construction, Sherpa fleece is used to imitate fur, every instance colored a light cream so as to better remind of the beloved, bamboo-obsessed bear. A somewhat similar, more saturated shade, then, accents the lace unit, while the suede strap and overlays opt for a black finish, effectively rounding out the overall homage. Additionally, the dark neutral also brings attention to the two Swooshes, which alternate between a standard leather a shinier jewel. And if the make-up’s inspirations are not overt enough, various pandas are also printed onto the outsole next to Japanese text, basketballs, and a close-up image of what looks like a stone Buddha.
For a closer look at the upcoming Air Force 1 Mid “Panda,” take a look at the official images below. While a release date is still TBD, it shouldn’t be long before we hear official word.
Updated April 22nd, 2022: The Air Force 1 Mid “Panda” is releasing on April 27th, 2022 in Nike SNKRS Korea.
