If you're like me then you grew up copping a brand new pair of Nike Air Force 1 lows for school. It became a staple in my rotation and it still is to this day. If you read any of my interviews you'll hear how this is my favorite sneaker, if it was up to us Chicagoans we would say this sneaker belongs to us.
This season, Nike will be celebrating communities in NYC, LA and Chicago that bring people together and move their community forward. In Chicago, the sneaker was inspired by the barbershop community. And if you're from Chicago then you've heard of Drew Henderson also known as Drew The Barber, the owner of No Cuts No Glory. Drawing inspo from Drew's life and inspiration, we see the Nike AF-1 All For 1 - Chicago.
THE DETAILS
The Nike AF1 features high quality tumbled leather with rolled edges, an execution that is very functional so that hair being cut can be easily removed.
Wax laces not only look beautiful on the shoe but ensure that that fallen hair will not get trapped. The lace tips represents the traditional barbershop pole, but the standard royal blue was replaced with light blue, a nod to the Chicago flag.
There’s a pony hair back tab was added as a premium fixture and represents the hair that barbers cut daily, duh.
The front tongue tag features a visual of the Nike swoosh and the Chicago skyline that transitions into the silhouette of a comb. The top of the tongue includes a small white edge to represent the white tissue paper barbers use around customer’s necks. The inner-lining of the tongue is nylon red and white pinstripe, a nod to the classic barbershop cape used by Drew and many others.
A metallic silver deubré was chosen to represent the razor blades.
The outsole is an ice blue with a black and white diamond pattern that reflects classic barbershop flooring.
The green insert was added as a symbol of Drew’s first barber chair when he first opened up his shop – an egg-white chair with green accents.
“It means so much to me to be involved with the production of a shoe that represents some of the most important things in my life: Chicago, the barbershop and the community. I’ve had a passion for cutting hair my entire life and, while I never thought to myself I’d be able to inspire a shoe, it is an honor to shine a spotlight on the city, industry and community that made me who I am and motivate me every day. I share this with all of them" said Drew.
The sneaker will be sold in select Chicago retail locations and on Nike.com starting December 7, 2019.