1 colorway of the Nike Air Force 1 Low SP on SoleBook.
The Nike Air Force 1 Low, originally released in 1982, started life as a basketball shoe named after the presidential aircraft, built around Nike's first Air-Sole unit visible in the midsole. Designed by Bruce Kilgore, it broke ground with its high-top ankle support and low-top option, both featuring a rigid leather upper that gave it a clean, blocky silhouette unlike anything else on the hardwood at the time. When Nike pulled it from shelves after its initial run, demand from Baltimore and DC retailers reportedly pushed the brand to bring it back in 1986, cementing its status as a lifestyle staple rather than a performance model. The "SP" designation has since become shorthand within Nike's catalog for Special Project releases—pairs that get unusual materials, collaborator input, or design liberties not extended to general retail versions. Applied to the Air Force 1 Low, SP tags typically signal premium leathers, deconstructed panels, unexpected color-blocking, or tie-ins with artists and boutiques. Rather than a distinct model, the AF1 Low SP functions as a flexible platform for Nike to experiment with the silhouette's proportions and finishes, keeping the four-decade-old shoe relevant to collectors chasing something outside the standard lineup.