How The Air Force 1 Became Nike’s Top-Selling Sneaker

Air Force 1’s are Nike's top-selling sneaker of all time. And that isn’t surprising. Everyone from Jay Z to Kendall Jenner has a relationship with the classic shoe.

But the Air Force 1 had a different fate when Nike released it in 1982. In fact, Nike planned to cancel the shoe altogether in 1984. That is until a trio of retailers in Baltimore banned together to extend the life of the beloved basketball sneaker. Through inventive color of the month shoe drops, the Baltimore retailers not only saved the Air Force 1, but they influenced Nike’s distribution strategy forever.

Here’s how the Air Force 1 went from a limited shoe release to the top-selling shoe at Nike.

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How The Air Force 1 Became Nike's Best-Selling Sneaker Of All Time

[boaventures]

air forces & timbs, two shoes that will never go out of style and that’s on everything

[chrisgumbs]

AF1’s are timeless but the creasing on them is awful.

[Edueduuu]

It's because everything fits with af1

[LifeofKairo]

That retailer grind and marketing creativity is huge inspiration! And the sneaker head side hustle is a thing of beauty too 👟

[mayloop]

you could not tell me anything in highschool! Everybody was rocking this! Im shocked the kids still wearing them these days.

[tohdbhe]

When The Hip Hop Culture gets a hold on anything we Love/Like. We Absolutely take it to the Next level...making companies Mad dollars$$

[erick_bst]

In the Dominican Republic they are known as "crokies", since 2001 there's always a fresh pair of white AF1 on my feet because it's a timeless design and it goes well with everything you combine them.

[ThecrazyJH]

DC represents NB, Baltimore represents AF1, NYC represents Timbs…either way, east coast cities stay starting trends!

[mikesully]

I remember when all lows were $65. The mids were bout $75 and the highs were bout $85. Maaannnn I missed the 90's, please take me back 😂😂

[thankyoucomeagain]

AF 1 and AIRMAX...my top 2 shoes all time

[RobertInnis]

Had these way before Nelly hopped on. His song just drove up the price.

[fordcinco]

Air Force 1 of Nike
Chuck Taylor of Converse
Stan Smith of Adidas

Those shoes will never go out of style

[cj.]

The only that doesnt go on sale during black fridays.

[AlexToma]

I have a thing for older shoes design, especially the ones made between the 1970 and 1980.
This thing made me love old basketball shoes like the Nike Blazer. My favorite all time shoes are Nike Air Force 1 and Nike Blazer.

I always said that your shoes change with you, they have a bit of a personality. That’s why I love creases, scuffs, yellowing on the midsole and marks. That means you have done something with them and maybe one of that memory is a good one.

[isaacannanjr]

Nelly deserves royalties from Nike for bringing them back to mainstream back in 2002-'03. 💵💯

[carepear]

Black culture makes everything revelant. Words, phrases, food, movies and shoes. Music and hbcus.

[anthonyweisse]

I am 55 years old and dying to get a pair... timeless! Lol

[Methuselah_Man]

they never went out of style...young people bite from the 80s and early 90s and think they started it

[josephharris]

For you old heads, what’s old is new again. That’s fashion. It recycles itself if y’all didn’t know

[airforceone]

Not many would know the af1s in 2007 or around that time, were more cushioned, size was actually true to size and the leather did not crease as much. Those af1s were built good.

2023 af1s are less cushioned, runs big, creases easy, leather looks more cheap and feel cheap.

I still have a pair of 2007 af1s to this day in the box.

I can tell you for a fact the cushion inside is double it was thick. Comfy thick.

Now its half that cushioned.