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Bruce Kilgore and the Swoosh may not have anticipated the success of their presidential basketball sneaker in 1982, but the Nike Air-donning model has gone on to influence: footwear design, sport, collecting, retail, fashion, music and culture-at-large since its debut 40 years ago. If it wasn’t for a trio of Baltimore-based shops–Charley Rudo, Cinderella Shoes and Downtown Locker Room–the Air Force 1 would’ve been left in ’84 as Nike had considered discontinuing Kilgore’s creation, leaving generations without the opportunity to enjoy one of the best sneaker designs of all time.
At 40 years old, the Air Force 1 is as relevant as ever, appearing on TikTok, fashion show runways and Harlem streets. Styles like the “White-on-White” continue to reign supreme, but collaborations with high-profile names; region-inspired collections; and experiments with color, material and more have helped expand the sneaker’s appeal. And because there are so many options to choose from, we’ve teamed up with the Swoosh to highlight 12 pairs you can choose from right now.
So, browse ahead or visit Nike.com to get the birthday celebration started.
While many cities and regions will claim to be the originator of Air Force 1 culture, the heartbeat of the AF1 knows no borders. Still, Nike places special attention to the Northernmost borough of the Bronx, an area where “Uptowns” were born.
There’s never a shortage of Air Force 1 selections, but for its 40th Anniversary, Nike has created some unique traditions such as the “Color Of The Month” drop, accompanied by a toothbrush.
Any conceivable combination of white and black on the Air Force 1 has proven to be a working formula. Low and High, Nike has options available now to round out your rotation.
Initially debuting in 1994, the Air Force 1’s Mid-cut trim has gone on to establish itself as equally significant and stylish. Already the base model of some key collaborations in 2022, the Air Force 1 Mid is available with some attractive options straight from the source.