Born in 1982

by Dominique Hendelman

1982 was a big year, and not just because it’s when I was dropped into the world. It was the year Nike came out with the Air Force One and changed the kick game forever. Bobitto Garcia, a man who definitely knows his soles, has called the AF1 the Rakim of sneakers. You can’t get much higher praise than that, and it’s well deserved. The major innovation at the time when it was first released was the air technology - immediately setting it apart from all other basketball sneakers. It was also more durable than previous kicks because of the thick sole, making it a force to be reckoned with on the b-ball court. The AF1 was the first shoe from Nike to have more than just a limited run.

After its initial release, it was reborn due to popular demand, prompting Nike to release a different colorway each month. Keep in mind, there was no internet at this time, so it was straight word-of-mouth. Nike didn’t shove the AF1 on consumers by bombarding them with ads; it was just a trend that started in the b-ball courts and spread like crazy. To this day, the AF1 has more variations than any other sneaker out. What makes them so special and timeless is that they’re always evolving and stepping up the entire kick game again and again. They’re definitely the joints this sneakerfiend fiends for most!

[the Cooper]

To commemorate the 25th anniversary, Nike released two series of six kicks each – one to represent the original six basketball players who endorsed the AF1, and one to represent the new six players.

[the Jones]

The original six include Moses Malone, Calvin Natt, Jamal Wilkes, K.C. Jones, David Thompson, and Michael Cooper.

[the Malone]

Each sneaker was actually designed in part by the player, and comes with a silver tag with their jersey number.

[the Natt]

[the Thompson]

[the Wilkes]

The new six include Rasheed Wallace, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Amare Stoudemire, Vince Carter, and Tony Parker. Both series of AF1XXV’s were released in February.

[the Stoudemire]

[the Kobe]

[the Lebron]

[the Rasheed]

[the Parker]

My sister and I had a chance to go to the Nike spot in lower Manhattan and check them all out before they were released, which was pretty dope for two female sneakerfiends like us.

[sister Ali]

Also on display, were the two versions of the AF1XXV Luxury. Both flawlessly hand-made in Italy with 20-karat gold tags.

[the anaconda]

One is made of anaconda skin and the other of crocodile – strictly for the flossers and collar poppers: they’ll run you 2 G’s each!

[the croc]

Nike also did a wider release of a series of 14 Air Force XXV’s, which we were able to peep.

2007 is shaping up to be a good year for sneakerfiends and a happy birthday for the AF1. It’s hard to believe it’s 25 already, seems like yesterday it was still in diapers. Here’s to another 25 years of fresh-out-the-box joints and those who love them and will keep fiending for more!

[me!]