The Nike Air Force 1 is overwhelmingly associated with white. On the other hand, black Air Force 1s are sold continuously, but they are minor compared to white Air Force 1s. There are few examples of celebrities and fashionable people wearing them, and it is difficult to find the right way to coordinate them with cool outfits. Furthermore, “Is the black Air Force 1 a cool sneaker in the first place?” With these questions in mind, we will once again delve into the appeal of the black Air Force 1.
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First, we will explore the reasons for their current standing.Why are black Air Force 1s worn far less than white ones?
OTOKOMAE’s editorial team holds tens of thousands of snapshots taken in major fashion cities around the world. Among them, it is common to see people wearing white Air Force 1s, but only a few of them are wearing black. First, we will explore why this model is in a minor position by looking back at its history.
Reason why the black Air Force 1 is in the minority 1Because the origin is white to begin with
The history of the Air Force 1, which was introduced in 1982, is that it was originally created as a basketball shoe with white as its base color. In the late 1980s, the shoe became associated with hip-hop culture, and its white leather and low-cut design was even called “the official dress of the street. In the late 1980s, white leather and low-cut shoes in particular were associated with hip-hop culture and came to be known as the “official street attire.
Moses Malone (76ers),MAY 12, 1983 – NBA Photo/Rusty Kennedy
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Reasons why black Air Force 1s are in the minority 2Because the heaviness of black tends to act negatively
According to color psychology research, black symbolizes authority, stability, and strength, but it is also a color associated with oppression and closure. When black is used in a design with a thick and voluminous sole, such as the Air Force 1, it appears physically and visually heavier, which increases styling difficulty. This may result in lower wear rates.
Photo: Backgrid/Afro
Reference
・Kaya & Epps, Color Research & Application, 2004
Reasons why the black Air Force 1 is a minority 3Because it is treated as a symbol of bad and tough looks in some communities
According to the COMPLEX article, the black Air Force 1 used to have a serious and negative image in certain sneaker cultures image of the shoe. For example, in certain communities in the U.S., “people who intentionally purchased all-black AF1s were considered untrustworthy.” Also, rapper Mayhem Lauren stated, “I have never committed a criminal act without wearing black AF1s,” and other interesting information is packed in the book, so if you are interested, please check it out.
The “Black Air Force Energy” meme emerged in the U.S. social networking culture from 2017 to 2019. Its origins can be traced back to the spread of posts on Twitter (now X) that ridiculed wearers of the black Nike Air Force 1 model as “potential troublemakers” and “people to avoid getting involved with.”
The slang functions as a metaphor to refer to a person’s atmosphere of danger and unpredictability. Examples include “He’s giving off an aura of danger,” “Don’t mess with him, he’s got Black Air Force Energy.
Conclusion, the black Air Force 1 is a shoe for styleA beastly sneaker that risks looking negative but is super cool when worn
The reasons for the lack of black Air Force 1s include brand history, impression, coordination difficulties, cultural image, and sales strategy. Based on the above, the author sees the black Air Force 1 as “a shoe that is versatile but chooses its style. Fashionable people who like to wear the black Air Force 1 often understand this background and incorporate it into their own style. Furthermore, it may be able to be certified that the man who can wear a temperamental model called black Air Force 1 fashionably = a fierce person who can set up a super-cool coordination. From the next page, we will explore how to coordinate a good-looking black Air Force 1 based on specific examples of how to wear it.
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