For the 40th anniversary of Nike’s Air Force 1, Virgil Abloh designed a celebratory shoe. Combining the futuristic lens of Off-White with the legendary silhouette, the Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 Mid is a combination of greatness. Dropping on June 23rd, Architecture, the think tank and creative studio founded by Abloh, designs a campaign to honor his legacy.

The visuals pay homage to architecture campaigns Abloh directed for Off-White. The Mies van der Robe’s Barcelona Pavilion, Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoie, and Phillip Johnson’s Glass House are the architectural inspirations. These campaigns were defining moments in Abloh’s career, as he combined modernist architecture, fashion, and youth culture.

The new campaign is shot at the Seattle Public Library. It nods to Rem Koolhaas, a longtime collaborator of Abloh’s and the architect whom Abloh himself studied in university. Koolhaas’ OMA practice designed the Seattle Public Library, tying the entire campaign together.

The Air Force 1 Mid features an airy mesh and woodgrain pattern, combining lightweight qualities with a utilitarian edge. The outsole is spiked, a direct connection to the ISPA philosophy of “Improvise. Scavenge. Protect. Adapt.” The shoe features traditional laces with a secondary set that loops through Flywire cables. This addition leaves room for the wearer to get creative with the design, something that Abloh loved to include in his designs. It brings a modern and experimental quality to one of the world’s most iconic shoes.

Photography by Lukas Wassmann | Courtesy of Off-White
Lukas Wassmann and Alaska Alaska partner with Architecture to release a limited-edition artist publication to accompany the campaign. While this collection came about to honor the iconic history of the Air Force 1, it honors the revolutionary design of Abloh as well.