New colorways were revealed for the Nike x Riccardo Tisci collaboration, which is set for a March 21st launch date at select influencer-tier boutiques worldwide (though it sounds like there could be at least two launches, separated by color). Complex magazine landed the exclusive, along with a q&a between editor Matthew Henson and Tisci, who gave details on the collection and how it was inspired. Tisci says he has been working on the shoes for a year and a half, and described working with Nike as “very easy.”
Here are some of our favorite quotes. See the full article at Complex.
“‘[Nike has] never done any collaboration that was wrong, or didn’t make sense to the company’s codes, never done anything too much, the history is one that respects its roots.”
“I’ve been wearing Air Force 1s for 15 years. It’s always been the same. The white ones. When people take a picture of me I almost always have on the same thing. A black T-shirt, black trousers, and white Nike shoes.”
“I’ve been lucky to have 100 percent freedom to express myself and for me this was a “Wow” project because Nike gave me an iconic shoe, and basically gave me a white sheet of paper to do what I want.”
“I changed very little of the shoe. I kept the volume, the shape, and beauty of these shoes. Also keeping to the roots of these shoes, I used the same leather. The changes are mostly in the details.”
“We are releasing the white first because that is the one that I wear, but the black one is quite amazing.”
“It was very easy to work with Nike. Sometimes you get approached by these big companies that want you to do a collaboration or whatever it is, and it’s very violent. I won’t mention names but I have worked with other big companies in the past and they were quite violent.”
“This collaboration is also a celebration of my childhood, through this amazing company, and a shoe I feel connected to. It’s a dream. Seeing my initials on the shoe is a great moment for me as a designer.”
