Nigo and Nike: better friends than enemies. It was only last year that Bape – the streetwear marque that the Japanese designer founded – was taken to court by the Swoosh for imitating some of its most popular sneakers, including the (see: ). But they've put their differences aside (Nigo hasn't helmed Bape since 2013, anyway!) to launch an official collaboration, and aren't we glad they have.
As far as collaboration debuts go, it's a pretty strong one. What we have to start with is an Air Force 3, which will come as no surprise to the most attentive of sneakerheads as it's the rather unconventional silhouette Nigo has been regularly wearing over the last few months. To Kenzo runway shows (he's the current creative director of the Parisian fashion maison), on trips to and just generally around and about.
“The AF3 is a hidden masterpiece that I remember loving at the time,” Nigo commented to Nike about its 1988 model. “Through my first collaboration with Nike, I want to reintroduce everyone to its magnificence.” The zhuzh'd up collaborative iteration is characterised by a multicoloured upper formed from various leathers and textiles which sits atop a foam and rubber sole that's identical to that of the OG.
Its jocund appearance is inspired by the television shows Nigo grew up on (lots of anime, it seems). So is the special addition box, which contains a patch and a pin in addition to the sneakers. The upcoming Air Force 3 marks the beginning of what Nigo has describe.
