STREETHING

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The first of the Air Force 1 City Pack to be released this April is the Baltimore Series.

"The buzz for the Air Force 1 centered in Baltimore, far from the major fashion centers and the only place where the model was sold for a time after it was discontinued. By 1983, Nike was ready to discontinue the model for newer styles. But three Baltimore retailers-- Cinderella Shoes, Charlie Rudo Sports (own by Charlie Rudo aka Mr. Shoe), and Downtown Locker Room-- banded together to implore Nike executives to reconsider."

BALTIMORE SERIES

In Baltimore the love for the Air Force 1 took the form of a groundswell of support that emerged in the early 80s and eventually spread its affection all over the world. The powerful presence of the shoe on all sides of town turned the AF1 into Baltimore’s shoe of choice, a revolutionary footwear product that spoke volumes about the city’s love for basketball and made Baltimore a key player in the subsequent resurrection of the Air Force 1 and the flourish of basketball culture. The playgrounds of Baltimore became the stage that Force gave its debut performance.

The west side Dome featured local players who gave onlookers their first glimpse of the Air Force 1. Baltimore’s most dominant athletes laced up the AF1 before stepping foot on the city’s most hallowed courts. It was these same athletes who went to Mr. Shoe and cleaned out the store of the latest models. Their insatiable demand for the sneaker cemented the shoe’s legacy and went a long way in ensuring its future. Once embedded in the heart of Baltimore’s basketball community, the Air Force 1 quickly leapt from court to culture, never leaving behind the aesthetic of Baltimore playgrounds and never forgetting the contribution of the city’s players.

To pay tribute to these pillars of the AF1 community, Nike has designed the Baltimore sneakers to symbolize these staunch supporters. The color palette is reflective of Baltimore’s environment with brick and team red referencing the city’s many brownstones, Kelly green and yellow paying homage to Cloverdale’s signature clover leaf and white, brown and red celebrating one of Mr. Shoe’s original customized AF1s. These colors pop across the premium leather uppers that feature graphic call outs, such as the FOUR ONE ZERO area code of Baltimore and MR representing Mr. Shoe. The story of Baltimore’s longstanding affiliation with the AF1 is continued on all the shoes’ insoles, which further demonstrate the bond between the Dome, Cloverdale, Mr. Shoe and the die-hard basketball fanatics that continue to take the Air Force 1 message to the streets.

THE PRINCIPLES OF PERFECTION

• Every shoe expertly crafted and detailed with consistent precision
• Re-engineered leather interior with minimized, flush seams for maximum comfort
• Sculpted collar and tongue for perfect comfort and fit around ankle
• Re-crafted polished chrome deubre with laser-etched leather inlay
• Exclusive Nike Air technology
• Constructed with luxurious materials sourced from around the world
• Waxed, stain-proof laces with polished chrome twist-off aglets
• Stitch-and-turn edges for sharpened design lines
• Removable sock-liner crafted to cradle the foot
• Laser-etched polished chrome hangtag with leather insert
  

The City Pack will be available at Selected Nike Sports Culture Stores and Concept Shops in South East Asia.