BTS’ j-hope and Japanese Artist Nigo Team With Major Shoe Brand to Remix a Classic Style
Billboard ·
The collab is described as "classic 1990s Tokyo nostalgia meets modern global stardom."
Japanese artist Nigo and BTS’ j-hope have teamed up with Nike to debut a new exclusive style of the classic Air Force 1 World Tour sneaker. According to a release announcing the team-up , Nigo has worked with j-hope to remix a classic and “deliver on his signature hobicore aesthetic.”
“What began as mutual admiration evolved into a creative partnership rooted in rarified taste, artistry and design — brought to life through a vibrant expression of the 2001 Air Force 1, which Nigo and Nike designers reprised for his multi-season Air Force 1 journey,” reads the statement.
“I really like the harmony of the enamel material color that Nigo expressed. And the special shoelace details that I haven’t seen often bring out the charm of the sneakers even more. It’s so good,” said j-hope about the unique design of the shoe, which features a glossy Burnt Sunrise and Metallic gold leather upper, Chlorine Blue accents and, on the insole, a collection of motifs featuring “signature squirrel graphics that embody j-hope’s energetic spirit.”
The heel of the shoe and its tongue tag also feature co-branding with Nigo and j-hope’s names on them and, instead of standard cotton laces, the sneakers have braided, multicolor ropes that pick up on the overall color scheme.
“I think j-hope is one of the few people who can become a true ambassador for culture and help carry it forward to the next generation,” said Nigo in the announcement of the shoe that comes in a custom shoebox featuring a mix of the sneaker’s colorway and the men’s names in bold print above the Nike swoosh.
The Nike x Nigo x j-hope Air Force 1 will launch exclusively on Oct. 17 here , followed by a global launch on Oct. 22 on Nike’s SNKRS app and at select retail outlets.