Few collaborations capture the pulse of modern New York as vividly as the LAAMS x Nike Air Force 1 Low, a debut partnership that transforms the iconic basketball silhouette into a living piece of urban art. Conceived by Scott Selvin, founder of the Lower East Side creative hub LAAMS, the shoe channels the neighbourhood’s eclectic identity, raw, expressive, and unfiltered, through meticulous craftsmanship and subversive design cues.
The Air Force 1 has long been a canvas for cultural storytelling, from hip-hop to high fashion. Here, it becomes a vessel for New York City’s visual poetry, its plywood barricades, weathered posters, and layers of graffiti all reimagined through a design language of texture and tone. The upper is rendered in a deep forest green with a distinctive woodgrain-texture effect, an homage to the temporary walls and construction panels that have come to symbolise urban renewal across Manhattan’s downtown streets.
Overlaying that base, cream-tumbled leather panels lend warmth and tactility, offsetting the rugged backdrop with artisanal softness. Heritage-style laces nod to classic Nike DNA, while micro accents of electric blue and neon green enliven the Swoosh and outsole, a deliberate juxtaposition of grit and glow that mirrors LAAMS’ mission to merge creativity and community energy.
Even the construction details echo this ethos. A padded collar provides comfort and structure; the perforated toe box enhances breathability; and the classic Air midsole ensures all-day wearability.
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