1 colorway of the Nike Air Force 1 Low '01 on SoleBook.
Nike's Air Force 1 Low traces back to 1982, when it debuted as a basketball shoe built around Nike Air cushioning, one of the first hoops silhouettes to carry that tech. Designed originally by Bruce Kilgore, the shoe stood out for its high-cut ankle collar (later dropped for the Low) and thick leather upper, a departure from the lighter runners dominating Nike's lineup at the time. It was pulled from shelves after an initial run, but demand from Baltimore and DC retailers pushed Nike to bring it back in 1986, and it never really left again. The "'01" tag generally refers to reissues and updates Nike rolled out in the early 2000s, as the AF1 was cementing itself less as performance footwear and more as a streetwear staple. By then the silhouette had already been embraced far beyond basketball courts, adopted by hip-hop culture and sneaker collectors who valued its clean lines and durability. Premium leather builds, updated foam midsoles, and expanded colorways became standard through this era, feeding the endless stream of collaborations and general releases that keep the Low in steady rotation today.