Nike has unveiled a new collaborative sneaker, the Nike x Nigo x j-hope Air Force 1 '01, created with Nigo, an iconic Japanese streetwear designer, and j-hope of BTS.
Part of Nigo’s ongoing Air Force 1 World Tour with Nike, the project brings together 1990s Tokyo street culture and j-hope’s distinctive Hobicore aesthetic in a single silhouette.
First introduced as a basketball shoe in 1982, the Air Force 1 became an icon linking fashion, music and street culture. Through this collaboration, it has become a new canvas for the two artists’ personal memories and creative worlds.
Nigo’s Design Language, Born in 1990s Tokyo
A defining figure in Japanese streetwear, Nigo has long turned his interest in vintage Americana, music and pop culture into a creative language of his own. He continues to influence fashion culture across generations.
The Air Force 1 World Tour that Nike and Nigo have pursued since 2026 likewise draws on his personal history, the people around him and his past cultural experiences as starting points for its designs.
The LO2 Air Force 1, first unveiled last April, drew inspiration from magazine columns Nigo worked on with designer Jun Takahashi in the early 1990s and their Tokyo select shop, NOWHERE. This project, by contrast, focuses on his friendship with j-hope and their shared aesthetic.
In an official Nike interview, Nigo described j-hope as a constant source of inspiration. J-hope, in turn, praised Nigo as a director who precisely guided the design in the direction he had envisioned.
A relationship founded on mutual respect has grown into a collaboration.
A 2001 Silhouette Takes on New Colors
At the heart of the design is the silhouette of the 2001 Air Force 1, reinterpreted for today by Nike and Nigo.
With a narrower toe box and sleeker shape than the standard Air Force 1, this design is a recurring element throughout Nigo’s Air Force 1 World Tour, giving the classic sneaker a more refined vintage look.
The upper uses glossy leather in Burnt Sunrise and Metallic Gold, with Chlorine Blue accents creating a vivid contrast.
The combination of warm brown and gold creates a retro mood reminiscent of 1990s Tokyo, while naturally reflecting j-hope’s flair for freely mixing unexpected colors.
The design draws on Nigo’s vintage tastes to visually express j-hope’s energy.
Small Details Complete the Hobicore Look
J-hope’s personality comes through even more clearly in the details placed throughout the shoe.
Eye-catching laces and an unusual mix of materials set it apart from a standard Air Force 1, while squirrel graphics on the insole and heel symbolize j-hope’s lively image.
In an official Nike interview, j-hope also expressed his satisfaction with the color harmony of Nigo’s enamel materials and the uncommon lace details.
A key feature of this collaboration is how it retains Nigo’s restrained design sensibility while incorporating j-hope’s playful, free-spirited aesthetic throughout.
A Story That Began With White Air Forces in Childhood
The Air Force 1 holds different meanings for the two artists in this collaboration.
For Nigo, the Air Force 1 is a timeless wardrobe staple, like Levi’s 501s and a white T-shirt. For j-hope, it is a shoe tied to memories of his first experiences with music and dance.
In a Nike interview, j-hope said the first sneakers he wore to dance as a child were white Air Force 1s. He still remembers dancing passionately until the shoes developed creases.
He added that seeing the Air Force 1, a shoe that accompanied him as he grew up, infused with both Nigo’s style and his own felt like coming face to face with his past again.
It shows that the project is more than a celebrity collaboration: it is a product of the two artists’ experiences and relationship.
Release Dates and Seoul Pop-Up Event
The Nike x Nigo x j-hope Air Force 1 '01 will be released first through the official HUMAN MADE online store (humanmade.jp) on October 17, 2026, followed by a global release through Nike SNKRS and select retailers starting October 22.
The official price in South Korea is 189,000 won. The shoe’s product code is IO8766-800, and it is scheduled to be sold through a draw on SNKRS.
According to the event information provided, a pop-up celebrating the collaboration is also scheduled for October 18 at Layer 20 on Wonhyo-ro in Seoul’s Yongsan District. It will run for one day, from noon to 8 p.m.
Nigo and j-hope’s collaboration shows once again that the Air Force 1, loved for more than 40 years, remains an icon capable of carrying the culture and personal stories of a new generation.
Adding one artist’s personal growth and creative energy to a long history of streetwear, this collection looks set to be remembered as another Air Force 1 that connects different generations and cultures.
