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words // Nick DePaula:
The fashion world is often reappropriating and referencing design elements from outside brands or industries, and what we have here is one of the absolute worst representations of that approach that we’ve ever seen.
Behold, the Jeffrey Campbell Tempo and Stark, two heel and wedge executions that defy definition.
The Nike Air Bakin is (generously) a cult basketball sneaker at best. It first released in 1997 and was fittingly worn by Heat point guard Tim Hardaway. The Bakin amassed a bit of a fanbase once it returned in Retro form in the late 2000s, and has since been re-released in all kinds of ridiculous colorways and materials.
It would never be confused for a classic design though, and was lost in the shuffle when it originally released during the 90’s golden era of so many other iconic Nike Basketball models.
That hasn’t stopped quirky women’s footwear brand Jeffrey Campbell, who recently introduced the wedge and heel iterations featuring the Air Bakin’s literal lines along the upper. Gone, of course, is the collar Swoosh and the shoe’s original controversial Allah-inspired “Air” text, but the black and red colorway the shoe is always most known for is carried right over.
Available now in brutal Heel form for $220 and Wedge monstrosity for $200, if you have horrific taste. No word yet on if MZ3-inspired wedges or Jamgasmic Flight heels are in the works.
