Nike Air Force 1 Low x Off-White™ ‘The Ten’

The stripped back outer of this Nike Air Force 1 Low x Off-White™ ‘The Ten’ sneaker gives it a distinctive appearance. Part of Virgil Abloh’s ‘The Ten’ collection, it features translucent materials throughout, beginning with the rubber sole unit. The white, partially see-through surface of the outsole has a cloudy effect, but it still retains the same high levels of grip due to the pivot-circle formations in the forefoot and heel. On the lateral side of the midsole, alongside the embossed lettering typical of most AF1 designs, there is another set of Air lettering in bold black Helvetica font. It is printed within quotation marks in a style that has become a hallmark of Abloh’s collaborations with Nike.

Sat atop this unconventional sole is a deconstructed upper with more translucent materials. A tight mesh can be seen covering the white base layer of the midfoot panels and the toe box, both of which have perforations for breathability. Off-white sections appear in the forefoot and rear of the shoe, with subtly stitched seams artfully crafted along their edges. The rear overlay has a large part removed from it at the back, revealing a grey layer underneath with black text that reads “HO17-MNSBSK-538”. Above this, the suede heel panel comes in a muted shade of beige and has been debossed with a swoosh and the word “Logo”.

Zigzag stitching extends from the edges of the heel panel just below the exposed foam of the collar until it reaches the suede eyestay, whose peak is loose and unattached from the upper. Textured laces stamped with the word “Shoelaces” tie up over the off-white tongue, which also has foam visible along its rim. The patch that is usually found in the centre of this feature has been moved to the lateral side, its white surface enlivened by bright red Nike branding. Within the shoe, the insole is printed with a black box containing criss-cross arrows – a hallmark of the Off-White™ fashion label. Right beside this is a rectangle with the words “The Ten” written into it to mark this sneaker out as part of Abloh’s larger series of classic Nike shoes.

Back on the outer, fully transparent swooshes with a slightly glossy finish move down both flanks, white zigzag stitching attaching them along almost the entirety of their perimeters, with the exception of the tip. An orange tag highlights the lateral logo, while the medial one is laid over a paragraph of text that details the names of both brands, the model, the location of Nike’s headquarters and the year the AF1 was first created. The presence of this information lends the sneaker a somewhat commemorative feel, before a vibrant red zip tie adds a final signature feature of the Off-White™ brand to finish the sneaker in style.