Nike Air Force 1

Air Force 1 from Nike is one of the most legendary basketball shoes, probably with the highest degree of recognition. In 1982, it revolutionized the basketball game and proved that functional can also be attractive, and even fashionable. Mainly the hip-hop scene made Air Force 1 into a real cult object. In 2007, it celebrates its 25th anniversary.
In 1979, Nike launched its first running shoe with Air Technology: the Tailwind. Once this technology had proven itself, the Nike designers thought about which sport could profit from this modern cushioning. Basketball was soon a topic, because here the players undergo extreme physical strain. Before Nike Air Technology was integrated in basketball shoes, many players used to wear several socks on top of each other to protect themselves from the impact when jumping.
1982 was then the year: Air Force 1 was launched on the market. It was the first Nike basketball shoe integrating Nike Air Technology and it became one of the most popular shoes on the hardest courts in the world. The Air Force 1 was originally developed for players like Moses Malone and JEFF RULAND. But it was soon worn by other basketball legends whose game was radical.
In 1984, after the first production wave of Air Force 1, Nike customers suddenly changed in their perception. Maybe because Air Force 1 was suddenly hard to come by, and the demand grew for the basketball sneaker. Three retailers in Baltimore—Downtown Locker Room, Cinderella Shoes, Charley RUDO ’s Sports—were finally able to convince Nike to take up production of a completely new series in various colored signs. Even if, at the beginning, the demand was mainly concentrated on the East Coast of the USA, the popularity of Air Force 1 rose continually. From here, Air Force 1 carried its success out into the whole world. It was mainly the hip-hop fans who discovered it for themselves and made it especially popular.