{"id":8889,"date":"2022-12-07T12:44:52","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T11:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/?p=8889"},"modified":"2022-12-07T12:44:52","modified_gmt":"2022-12-07T11:44:52","slug":"air-force-1-the-legend-turns-40","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/air-force-1-the-legend-turns-40\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force 1: The Legend turns 40"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AF1, Forces, Uptowns… An infinity of names to honour one of Nike’s most iconic and best-selling models<\/strong>: the Air Force 1<\/a>. The first basketball shoe to incorporate Nike Air’s revolutionary technology in 1982, this model quickly became an icon in the sneaker scene, a position it has preserved to this day, where every release of this legendary silhouette catches everyone’s attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

40 years and more than 2000 versions after its creation<\/strong>, Air Force 1 remains synonymous with quality and exclusivity, a captivating and an indispensable element of street culture. To celebrate its anniversary, at FOOTDISTRICT we take a brief look at its fascinating history<\/strong> to honour a silhouette that, rather than a shoe, is a legend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first Air Force 1 and the \u201cOriginal Six\u201d<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Designed by the brilliant creative mind of Bruce Kilgore<\/strong>, this model was inspired by the shape of an international icon: the architecture of Notre Dame in Paris. However, this iconic silhouette was not named after the French capital. Its name comes indeed from the US presidential plane, <\/strong>although paradoxically no one knew that they would be shooting for the stars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first pair of the Air Force 1<\/strong> was released in 1982. Originally created for the basketball world, the first AF1s were characterised by being a white with grey accents high top model, with a strap that passed through the top of the ankle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This silhouette was enthusiastically welcomed by basketball players. Thanks to its incorporation of the innovative air technology in the midsole, they were considered practically indestructible in an industry in which most of the sneakers did not last after a few games.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Air Force 1 advertising poster with grey details. Source: ebay<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

However, when thinking about the first versions of the Air Force there is a historic event that deserves an honourable mention: the advertising campaign carried out with the \u201cOriginal Six” of the NBA<\/strong>, an icon of the sneaker culture that even today is studied as one of the best ads of all time. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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Air Force 1 poster with the \u201cOriginal Six\u201d: Moses Malone and Bobby Jones from the Philadelphia 76ers, Mychal Thompson and Calvin Natt from the Blazers, and Jamal Wilkes and Michael Cooper from the successful Lakers. Source: Nike<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Moses Malone, Bobby Jones, and Michael Cooper<\/strong> are just some of the names that come to mind when talking about the Nike Air Force 1. Precisely in the 1982-1983 season, Moses Malone wore his Nike Air Force 1, not only when picking up his NBA MVP award for the third time, but also in his following successful time with The Lakers.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Moses Malone poster with the first Air Force 1. Source: sneakerhistory<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

And we cannot forget the “updated” version of 2007: coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the release of the Nike Air Force 1, a commemorative spot<\/strong> –Second coming<\/em>– was shot, starring the undisputed icons of basketball at the time: Lebronn James, Kobe Bryant and Tony Parker. A tribute to the first advertising of AF1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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