Retro is a big project and is inseparable with trends.
The trend is ever-changing. Today's stuff may be obsolete tomorrow, and things of the past may be popular again today. History is such a tortuous back and forth forward.
NIKE AIR FORCE 1, is neither the most acclaimed paid of shoes in the history, nor is today's most popular sneaker, but as an essential retro model, to understand the NIKE AIR FORCE 1 is one of the most basic course.
AIR FORCE 1, produced in 1983, is the first NIKE basketball shoes which have air sole technology. And it was the year's flagship product at that year..
1. Color
AIR FORCE 1 has quite simple shape which makes it like a piece of white paper, you can ride on the paper. It is the case, NIKE could give AIR FORCE 1 maximum creativity. As a result, an overwhelming colors appear. At this point, for the first time it was surprised to see: a pair of shoes could have so many ideas. People can pick out one pair which fits your personality among the AF1s, which just meets people’s desire to show themselves.
Basically, AF1 has all colors, plain to full white, fancy to orange pink. It’s up to you
First introduce the change on the styles. First, material changes. although most of the AF1 are made of full leather (artificial), it also made of a quite few special material,such as crocodile leather, linen and so on. Second, sole changes. Not only the color changing, but also use raw rubber, transparent JELL undercover and so on. In generaly, its change on material is far away from Dunk.
Second is the highlight of the special edition. As a strategy of retro, launching special edition has became the major turn key of footwear manufacturers. The so-called special edition is bring some special information such as region or some events into the shoes. For example: launch the galloping to great success Taiwan special edition in year of the Horse; year of the Monkey and the Ram also have their own special editions; Memorial Cornell University special edition. As region special editions are even more, the European version, the Hong Kong version, LA edition, NYC version, the West Indian version, etc. Don’t look down upon these special editions, though there is little change in details, a thing is valued if it is rare, a pair of limited edition of other areas mark will attract more eye-catching.
3. Crossover
Crossover is not the unique skill of ALLEN IVERSON, but also NIKE’S. While the CROSSOVER shoe style is expensive and hard to find, but through a variety of exhibitions and publicity, through co-operation with other ARITS brands, AF 1 is well-known increasingly.
For example, co-operation with ERIC, HAZE, ATOMS and STASH have achieved very good results. Even though people seldom talk about various of AF1’S crossover, as early adopter of this concept, AF1’s status is still worthy of recognition.
4. Matching
AF1 is basically the natural partner of all street clothing. As a basic HIP HOP style, AF1’s position is self-evident. No matter jeans, cloth pants or skirts, as long as everyday casual wear can be matched with it.
Notably, AF1 is not suitable for skateboard equipment,leather clothing, leather pants or Punk and it’s better not to show up with bell-bottomed pants.
5. Capability
Retro shoes essentially have no talk about capability, but AF1 as the year’s top basketball sneaker still has basic protection of foot joints and cushion, but the comfort and specific properties is not that good. LOW style is suitable for shopping, MID and HI styles are suitable for games, but the premise is fully prepared.
6. Collection
The choice of shoes is up to collection point. Strickly speaking, most of the AF1 in the market now do not have appreciation potential, but they are still very attractive to the collectors. If you have OLD SKOOL collection, AF1 is also essential, as early classic basketball sneaker, AF1 is the same wonderful as AJ1.
7. Summary
Generraly speaking, AF1, as the classic of NIKE history, has long been sought after by the majority of SNEAKER lovers. But the trend is changing, after years of big break, since 2003, AF1 is gratually replaced by DUNK. By now, the fever of retro basketball sneaker is over, it’s believed that in the future years, AF1 will not be so hot.
