Louis Vuitton “Air Force 1" by Virgil Abloh (Exclusive Colourway) Goes on Auction this Week
The world is still dealing with the loss of Virgil Abloh who passed last November. While he may no longer be creating, his spirit, energy and legacy definitely lives on today. And we are reminded of the massive impact Abloh had with special releases like the Louis Vuitton x Nike "Air Force 1".
These earth-shattering kicks broke the internet when all 47 pairs debuted on the Louis Vuitton SS22 “Amen Break” runway during the Summer of 2021, and this immediately sparked conversations amongst sneakerheads about this being one of, if not the best fusion of luxury fashion and streetwear that the community had ever laid its eyes on.
For this launch, the French luxury house has partnered up with Nike and Sotheby’s to release an exclusive colorway from the collection via a charity-focused auction. 200 pairs that were manufactured in Fiesso d’Artico, Italy will be involved in this public release, all of which are devised with uppers that feature a duo of LV’s signature patterns and premium quality fabrics and range from sizes 5 to 18.
Classic dark brown Monogram graphics drape over the calf leather tongues, quarter panels and overlays while the Swooshes, and heel overlays are fitted with white and gray Damier patterns. Abloh’s staple Helvetica branding is exposed on the laces via the French word “LACET” — which translates to “lace” in English — as well as regal “Louis Vuitton for Nike” hits on the medial side beneath the Swooshes and “AIR” notations on the midsoles. Tongue branding — which reads “Louis Vuitton Air” has been skewed to the lateral side, and the interior liners have been treated with beige skin to align with the base layer’s cowhide piping. Moreover, each pair will come housed within an exclusive Taurillon leather pilot case that is submerged in a bold orange hue, comes debossed with all-over Monogram patterns and is furnished with Swoosh-shaped and LV-branded luggage tags.
Bidding for this Sotheby’s auction will be open from January 26 to February 8 and start at around R30k ($2,000 USD.) 100% of the sale’s proceeds will go towards The Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund, which alongside the Fashion Scholarship Fund, works to support the education of academically promising Black, African-American, and African students.
Source: Hypebeast
