It’s not all that routine to think about Nike and Louis Vuitton together. Forget that mentality now that sneakers are such a rage within collectibles. Louis Vuitton and Nike have teamed up to produce a limited edition run of shoes — Nike “Air Force 1” is a shoe that has a loyal following since first introduced in 1982.

It’s been a collectible even before the 2002 song Air Force Ones by artist Nelly. In 1988 DJ E-Z Rock was immortalized wearing the Nike Air Force 1 basketball trainer altered by Dapper Dan with a swoosh adorned in the Louis Vuitton monogram.
Sotheby’s used that 1988 album description to help introduce its newest auction: The Louis Vuitton and Nike “Air Force 1” by Virgil Abloh. In total 200 pairs of Nike “Air Force 1” originally created for Louis Vuitton Spring-Summer 2022 Men’s Collection are being made available in an exclusive colorway and range of sizes. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the initial release by Nike and this Sotheby’s Auction might be the most exclusive way for a “Air Force 1” shoe collector to celebrate.

A total of 200 pairs of Nike “Air Force 1” will be sold with a Louis Vuitton pilot case in orange Taurillon Monogram Leather (the case is exclusive to this auction). The pilot case features Louis Vuitton’s classic S lock closure in white metal finishing and includes a luggage tag in the shape of the Nike Swoosh, the case also adapts to every shoe size based on an internal cushion system.

Collectors Dashboard evaluates high-end collectibles as an alternative asset class. Whether or not this collectible shoe will be an investment may depend upon whether each buyer has to wear the shoes or can resist that urge. Either way, the estimated price target $5,000 to $15,000 per pair is a lot more than any normal shoes. Size ranges from size 5 to size 18. (Image by Sotheby’s)

Sotheby’s will host The Louis Vuitton and Nike “Air Force 1” by Virgil Abloh auction January 26 to February 8, 2022 beginning 10 AM EST.

Starting from the launch of the auction, the shoes and the pilot case will be exhibited at Sotheby’s New York. Visitors are welcome to view the exhibit free of charge, and can make an appointment to do so through Sotheby’s reservation page.
https://www.sothebys.com/en/book-new-york-exhibition?locale=en

According to Sotheby’s the sneakers were made with materials employed in Abloh’s Louis Vuitton men’s collections, and styled with his signature quotation marks, echoing the written graphics Abloh often used in his work. The individual styles designed for the show were made by Louis Vuitton in its shoe manufacture in Fiesso d’Artico, Italy.

The most successful shoe ever created will have its day in the sun for collectors to bid on. Collectors from music or pop culture based interests will be sure to follow along with this auction. One certainty is that this will be a pinnacle moment for the Nike Air Force 1 brand.