Nike is introducing a new Air Max shoe with the help of the Paris-based creative collective, Air Afrique.
The brand says that this new Air Max RK61 dress shoe gets its design mainly from the popular Air Max Sunder, combined with designs from traditional moccasin silhouettes. Nike also revealed that the silhouette's name references Air Afrique's original airline flight code and its founding year, celebrating the legacy of the airline.
The Air Max RK61 has a streamlined upper designed to look like a traditional dress shoe, but with a zipper at the center instead of the typical lacing setup. The model's standout element is the Max Air bag at the heel of the midsole, which the brand says is an homage to jet engines.
"This project is meant to bring out the rich history of Air Afrique, highlighting what the airline represented as an achievement for the continent and the people of those West African nations, domestic and abroad," Jupiter Desphy, the lead designer of the RK61, said. "The opportunity to travel should be available to everyone, and the ability to meet new people, see distant relatives and gain exposure to different cultures forms our worldview in a meaningful way. As a team, we wanted to show respect to an era of movement many people may not be familiar with, in the form of a shoe that articulates these ideas and emotions.”
Readers will be able to cop the Air Max RK61 starting on Oct. 9 via SNKRS and at select retailers. Scroll on for a closer look at the shoe.