When Fashion and Lyrics Meet
While Jay Z’s lyrics made the intro, Nike upped the relationship when it commissioned Riccardo Tisci to collaborate on a new set of sneakers. The Riccardo Tisci x Nike Air Force 1 in white was released on March 1, 2014 and the black version is slated or April 1, 2014.
The collection as announced includes the Nike Riccardo Tisci Air Force 1 Lo, Nike Riccardo Tisci Air Force 1 Mid, Nike Riccardo Tisci Air Force 1 Hi, and the Nike Riccardo Tisci Air Force 1 Boot.
Nike + R.T. Air Force 1 Sneakers
Photo by BFAnyc.com
The rapper set the stage for this collaboration between music, the street, and high fashion with his song Picasso Baby. His lyrics included:
I just wanna live life colossal
Leonardo Da Vinci flows
Riccardo Tisci Givenchy clothes
See me throning at the Met
The Riccardo Tisci x Nike Air Force 1 Collection includes a range of low, mid, high and boot versions that are intended to provide crossover between both style and gender and street and high fashion.
Tisci took his inspiration from legendary Air Force 1 and explains in an interview with Telegraph, “The shoe is universal yet somehow very personal. I travel all over the world, and I see people wearing the Air Force 1, and they wear it in so many different ways. And so I was thinking, what is the essence of the Air Force 1? And how do I take that essence and make my own statement? For me the Air Force 1 is not about gender, it’s not about a particular city, nor is it about a certain style. The community decides. It’s democratic. It’s love.”
This bridging the gap approach has gotten more attention in the sneaker market. Adidas recently announced their joint effort with the Paris-based Raf Simon from Dior. The product, expected out during the spring season, is also intended to leverage an existing show line, providing a superhero rendition of the shoes.
The Simon concept is unisex and used multiple colors in eight styles and four colorways. Hopes are high for the remix of the recently released Stan Smith sneaker. These shoes will sell in the range of $440 to $570 and will be distributed through the Adidas concept stores, boutiques, and “select sneaker specialists” throughout the world.
