Air Force 1 World Love Full Review
TO PAY HOMAGE TO THE GLOBAL PAST OF FORCE and to carry the innovation of that past into the even more promising future, Nike has created Air Force 1 and Air Force 25 footwear that details the story of the FORCE journey around the world. Each shoe features distinct detailing and craftsmanship that gives both subtle and loud references to the courts, teams, cities, languages, neighborhoods, cultures, and geography that has left an indelible mark on the story of worldwide FORCE. Rich in history and impact and steeped in a legacy of innovation that continues to change the game, the global icon of FORCE is manifested in this series of special Air Force shoes, paying tribute to the cities that have played an important part in the boundless progression of basketball culture.
In the case of Air Force 1 and FORCE, culture has traveled around the entire world; carrying with it the soul of basketball and the sole of a basketball shoe so influential that it has become iconic on courts and in cities thousands of miles away from its origins. Since its birth in 1982 Air Force 1 has moved beyond the hands of the American ballplayers who first made it famous, yet the fingerprints of those athletes remain. In that sense basketball culture has touched the world, traveling with Air Force 1 to cities like Paris, France and Tokyo, Japan. The style and aesthetic of 25 years of FORCE athletes is embedded in Air Force 1, along with the culture that has made those 25 years the defining period of modern basketball. From the east coast cities of New York, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, to the distant realms of Asian courts and European streets: the defining power of FORCE is evident, a love without boundaries and a passion that has crossed countless borders.
Full Review of Air Force 1 World Love After the Jump
THE FALL 2007 SERIES OF AIR FORCE 1 AND AIR FORCE 25 FOOTWEAR ENCOMPASSES THE STORIES OF SEVEN DIFFERENT CITIES AND COUNTRIES:
CHINA
In China FORCE speaks fluently of the impact of basketball on the city of Beijing. Near the center of the city rests Dong Dang Park, the heart and soul of Beijing’s growing love affair with basketball and home to some of the city’s best courts. Not far away lies the Forbidden City, the one-time home of China’s leaders and a source of inspiration for the countries unique FORCE products. Locations like the Forbidden City and the increasingly active Chinese basketball community is represented in the design of China’s Fall ‘07 FORCE footwear, a design that features images and colorways that reflect Chinese society both ancient and new. The earthy olive tones of the China AF1 represents the “new†Chinese society. The color reflects with the idea of a nation working hard together toward a booming, prosperous future. The old-world feel of much of China is represented in the FORCE shoes, with muted colors and earth tones mirroring the warm palette of Beijing and the land surrounding it. To highlight the understated yet elegant nature of Chinese culture a natural woven material was used to connect its AF1 with a society that is quickly becoming more and more intimate with the game. For its part the special Fall ‘07 Air Force 25 honors the culture of Beijing itself, using color inspiration to show how the city’s culture has embraced basketball and added its own influence.
Available in Nike Concept Stores in July 07, priced at RM459.
JAPAN
In Japan the fast paced urban environment of Tokyo influences everything from music to sport and embodies much of what hoop is all about. The energy of the modern city mirrors the kinetic pace of basketball and the ancient lore of the Japanese samurai finds a connection in the warriors of concrete and hardwood. The concrete jungle ash grey of Tokyo and the metal of its skyscrapers encase the technological aura of a city and country known for its advanced culture. With that in mind, Japan’s progressive nature is detailed in bold color and design stories on the canvas of FORCE, and even the country’s geographical location and island existence serve as aesthetic inspirations. The ocean blue hues pay their respect to the seas that ebb against the shores of this island nation, and shoe’s use of striking purple as a accent color stands as a symbol of nobility in Japanese culture. The woven material of the Japan FORCE shoes is made from a shiny, synthetic material that emotes a technological feel. With its dynamic atmosphere of art and culture, Tokyo has continued to bond with FORCE and find new ways of introducing basketball to athletes and fans in Japan.
Available in Nike Concept Stores in August 07, priced from RM459 to RM829.
ENGLAND
The streets of London, England have bred basketball and urban culture for decades, and Air Force 1 was there. As in American cities, true London ballplayers travel around their city looking for the best game and making sure their name is respected in every neighborhood. Historically the neighborhood of Brixton was the last stop both figuratively and literally on the line to basketball immortality. The players there were feared by most and revered by all. The blue line trains that carry commuters to Brixton played into the dark blue and white colors found on England’s FORCE footwear. Similarly, the herringbone material of the shoes echoes the tradition of fine tailored suits that emanate from the legendary shops of Savile Row. From the graphic inspiration found in the players and teams that haunt Brixton’s past, to the sartorial reputation of London’s refined streets, as well as the history of local stores who first sold AF1 shoes: the story of English basketball and culture finds its way effortlessly onto the design of London’s Air Force 1 and Air Force 25 product.
Available in Nike Concept Stores from July 07, priced from RM459 to RM829.
FRANCE
Added to the established European story is inspiration drawn from basketball’s presence in France. The urban cityscape of Paris cradles some of Europe’s best game, featuring courts and tournaments that have even seen the fall of some storied American teams. The pride of the French is at the core of France’s FORCE product, evident in colorways rooted in the tones of the French flag. Lace material was used in France’s AF1 footwear, embodying the allure and refinement of Paris, as well as graphic images of the Eiffel Tower, Paris’s vibrant hip-hop culture, and even the cobblestone streets and wrought iron fences that maintain the city’s historic air.
Available in Nike Concept Stores in August 07, priced from RM459 to RM829.
GERMANY
Berlin, Germany continues the influence of Europe’s diverse culture on basketball and FORCE. American culture has long been a part of the German lifestyle. In the late 80s Air Force 1 footwear began appearing on the courts of Berlin, the most poignant example being Truman Plaza, where German and American kids would meet to hoop, discuss Hip-Hop, and engage in a rich exchange of culture and art. The German attraction to FORCE became so great that Berlin collectors would book flights to the States in order to load up on AF1 product and return home with arms (and luggage) full. The story of these journeys across the Atlantic, the military component of FORCE’s German past, and Berlin’s landscape all play a part in the design of the German Fall ‘07 Air Force 1.
Available in Nike Concept Stores in September 07, priced at RM829.
USA
In America Venice Beach gives the world a premier display of outdoor basketball in an unusual setting. Situated against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean the courts that have held some of southern California’s most legendary outdoor games don’t exactly fit the mold of the rough, inner-city framework that define playground basketball in cities like New York or Chicago. Yet the courts that reside underneath Venice’s palm trees speak volumes about authentic hoop and also show the unique mix of beach/surf culture with the culture of basketball. Hot pink and aqua colorways, inspired by the vibrant designs of California’s surfboards and skateboards, enliven the Venice Air Force 1 footwear. The AF1 shoe’s lasered hibiscus print and unusual colorways reflect Venice’s distinct basketball story; a story that mixes the bold athleticism of basketball with the dynamic spirit of Venice Beach’s surf and skate cultures.
Available in Nike Concept Stores in September 07, priced from RM459 to RM829.
CANADA
North of the United States, Toronto, Canada has its own FORCE story to tell, one that is steeped in the history of the game itself. Native Canadian Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball in 1891 in Massachusetts and Canada’s FORCE footwear bears designs that honor his creation. The materials used to create this unique Air Force shoe plays off the discovery that original uniforms worn by players in Naismith’s era were most often made of natural cottons and wools. From the sketches of the world’s first basketball game to the hallowed 13 rules that defined it, these special Air Force 1 shoes carry the graphic story of the birth of the world’s greatest game.
Available in Nike Concept Stores in September 07, priced from RM459 to RM829.
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NO BOUNDARIES, NO BORDERS, NO RULES THAT LIMIT the reach of basketball culture and the shoe that defines it. From Germany to Canada to Argentina to Japan to China: the world has come to know Air Force 1 and fallen in love with FORCE. This Fall 2007 series of AF1 and AF25 shoes will not only honor the cities and countries that have shown appreciation for FORCE, it will honor the athletes, fans, and cultural components that have made this shoe and this game an icon all over the world.
The AF1 World Love collection will be available in Nike Concept Stores from July 07 onwards, and prices range from RM329 to RM829.
Info via Nike
