Have you ever heard of a trainer selling out in a matter of hours? Well it just happened when Nike released their hotly anticipated collaboration with Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci – Nike + R.T. Air Force 1.
The all white collection featuring 4 styles of the Nike classic Air Force 1, aptly named Low, Mid, High and Boot…no prizes for guessing why! Is the first half of the collection with an all black version coming this April. Of course these aren’t just your usual kicks for commuting in, the Air Force 1 Boot for example is of gladiatorial proportions featuring lacing to the knee and tribal strikes of colour in the iconic swoosh.
Tisci is the current ‘Don’ of hip-hop fashion. With Kayne and Jay-Z name dropping him at any given moment, not to mention sitting seats away from Ann Wintour herself at Givenchy’s Paris shows. The R.T. Air Force 1 collection runs parallels to Tisci’s basketball inspired men’s show, making the designers first foray into high street fashion the must have pieces of the season.
Riccardo Tisci is a major fan of the Air Force 1 and found the design process incredibly natural…”The shoe is universal yet somehow very personal,” said Tisci. “I travel all over the world, and I see people wearing the Air Force 1, and they wear it in so many different ways. And so I was thinking, what is the essence of the Air Force 1? And how do I take that essence and make my own statement? For me the Air Force 1 is not about gender, it’s not about a particular city, nor is it about a certain style. The community decides. It’s democratic. It’s love.”
Taking Tisci’s theory into count…the collaboration’s core is the white base of the trainer and then is injected with hot orange, neon yellow, bright blue and small references of black. Finished in strong hardware and branded with metal strap loops and patent shock-absorbing soles.
Sign up to Mr Porter now to join the mailing list for your chance to grab the all black Nike + R.T. Air Force 1. With pairs selling on eBay for double, sometimes triple the price, now is the time to think of that future classic…or is that future investment?