SNIPES Trace Digital Sneaker Culture with Exclusive Nike Air Force 1 ‘Source Code’ PackRelease: 30 August 2021 Style Code: DN4925-100
Colourway: White/Black/Grey Haze
Style Code: DN4925-100
Colourway: White/Black/Grey Haze
Sneaker culture entered a new frontier when the Internet coalesced with kicks at the turn of the millennium. One of the important sneakers at the dawn of this electronic age was the Nike Air Force 1, whose particularly strong revival in the 1990s birthed a new breed of collector – ones that were fastidiously fascinated with minutiae like SKU codes and release years. This niche knowledge was fostered with the rise of Internet-based sneaker forums, and expressed IRL in emergent sneaker stores.
One of these stores was SNIPES, who have been an integral part of the scene since the early days of sneakers on the Internet, having first opened in 1998. To acknowledge their intertwined and indelible connection, the global retailer has exclusive access to two takes on the Air Force 1, tapping into the ‘Source Code’ that gave rise to this digital sneaker culture.
The Nike Air Force 1 may seem like a quaint entry among technology-driven sneakers but, almost 40 years ago, it was the pinnacle of performance shoes. Credited with introducing a slew of sports innovations, the AF-1’s namesake technology changed the game. Plus, it was the rise of Internet and sneaker blogs/forums that ensured the model’s popularity well into the 2000s and 2010s. Digital events like the Nike Air Force 1Thology opened an online archive to classic colourways, while the Nike iD and Nike By You programs enabled sneakerheads to create personalised AF-1s from their computers. And now, the Air Force 1 ‘Source Code’ pack is written into online sneaker history, drawing on the timeless foundation of the tonal editions that are seen both worldwide and on the World Wide Web.
A clean base of white-on-white leather is accented by iridescent-style Swooshes, fading from rich azure to hazy violet. For sneakerheads looking for a little more contrast, a light grey option is available with matching outsoles, alongside purple to beige gradient Swooshes. This midfoot branding is bordered by thick dark embroidery, which harks back to Y2K-era AF-1s. Another throwback detail is the lone contrast Swoosh stamped into the heel tab, reminiscent of Nike’s occasional branding switch-ups during that era. The finishing touches include lace dubraes with polished colourful edges to match the Swooshes, plus computing source code containing Nike references written into the tongue labels.
The Nike Air Force 1 ‘Source Code’ pack is available now, exclusively from SNIPES.
