25 YEARS OF NIKE AIR FORCE 1s
Tuesday 12 December, 2006

Nike's Air Force 1 sneaker is turning 25 years old.

To celebrate, Nike are releasing a special anniversary edition - the Air Force 25 - as well as many other limited edition versions.

It's impossible to overstate the the impact the AF1 has had not just on basketball, but on hip-hop fashion and culture in general.

Before the AF1, there was nothing. To paraphrase one expert on Nike's documentary about the sneaker: "Before 1982, basketball sneakers were not comfortable. What was important wasn't so much the shoes you were wearing...rather how many pairs of socks you had on inside them. Back then, socks was your cushioning".

So when the AF1 came out - with its thick cushioned sole, superior ankle support and never-before-seen "Nike Air" technology  - it was like every basketball player's dream come true.

However, the legend of the AF1 is that it became more than just a basketball shoe. According to NYC streetball legend and sneaker aficionado Bobbito Garcia: "All the cool cats in New York started rocking them off the court". They crossed over - from a basketball shoe to a fashion statement.

"Big deal", I hear you say...but consider this - when they first came out, the AF1s were only available in a handful of stores in Uptown New York (hence the nickname "Uptowns"). Even more incredible is this - Nike did no promotions for the shoe other than a few print ads. No TV spots. No billboards. And obviously no internet.

But, through word of mouth, the AF1 became Nike's most popular sneaker of all time...and by the 90s, quite literally EVERYONE was wearing them. They had become more than just a sneaker...they were an icon of the hip-hop generation.

Now, 25 years after their launch, Nike are releasing the Air Force 25. Keen to stress that this is not just a re-hash of the AF1, Nike say they've taken all the things that made the AF1 such a legendary shoe and built on them with 25 years of improved technology.

When the original AF1s came out, they were endorsed by a team of 6 of the greatest players of their generation: Michael Cooper, Moses Malone, Calvin Natt, Jamal Wilkes, Bobby Jones and Mychal Thompson.

Those players are honoured in six new special edition Air Force 1s.

Meanwhile, 6 modern day players have been selected to rep the Air Force 25 - Kobe Bryant, Tony Parker, Amare Stoudamire, Rasheed Wallace, LeBron James and Vince Carter. Again, special edition sneakers are available for each of them.

The Tony Parkers

The Sheeds

And if you're really flossing, Nike are releasing Anaconda skin creps (with 18 carat gold lace ends, eyelets and hang tag) and crocodile skin AF1s (also with the gold). These bad boys are extremely limited and will go for $2000.

Anoconda skin with gold!

Croc skin!

For more, check out Tayo Odulaja's diary of his trip to New York to be part of the Air Force 1 25th anniversary celebrations.