Shoe of the Decade – Nike Air Force 1

Over the course of this decade one shoe has become more than just a top seller year in and year out, it has become a staple. First released in 1982, the Nike Air Force 1 was a revolutionary basketball shoe. However, in the 2000’s, the shoe grew to new heights.

Limited runs, special releases, and overseas exclusives made the hunger for this shoe unlike any other. Coming in just three different cuts (low, mid, and high), it was evident that this rather simply constructed shoe had limitless possibilities with endless opportunities for unique color-blocking, upper materials, stitched logos, and even custom labels.

Besides making a main stay on the shoe walls at Foot Lockers in virtually every mall and sneaker boutique in America, the shoe became the canvas of choice for memorable collaborations and hyperstrikes, creating even more energy for the shoe. Nike teamed up with street artists, musicians, DJ’s, athletes, and shop owners to create limited exclusive makeups of the timeless classic.

The best years of the Nike Air Force 1 may be up for debate, but the shoe gained considerable mainstream attention after the release of Nelly’s 2002 single “Air Force Ones” and the shoe’s 25th anniversary in 2007.

The shoe has seen a slight decline in popularity and buzz following the “Year of Air Force Ones”, but it cannot be debated that this shoe was the biggest model of the decade.