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Paris-based collective Air Afrique, named after the historic Pan-African airline that ceased operations in 2002, is teaming up with Nike to launch the Air Max RK61, a dress shoe-inspired silhouette that honors the airline’s legacy, aviation heritage, and the spirit of travel.
Crafted in sleek black and cream leather colorways, the design combines elegance with sport-inspired functionality, featuring Nike’s iconic Air technology for added comfort and durability. Merging sportswear with dressy aesthetics, the silhouette is reminiscent of the iconic Air Max SNDR and moccasin styles. The shoe is packed with aviation-inspired details, including a zipper pull with the airline’s original logo, Morse code spelling “Air Afrique” on the outsole, and a jacquard sock liner symbolizing aircraft seats. The Air Max unit, styled to resemble jet engines, adds a nod to the shoe’s mix of sophistication and playfulness.
Air Afrique’s legacy of the African diaspora is highlighted through the name of the shoe. “RK” refers to the airline’s original flight code, while “61” marks its founding year, 1961.
“The notion of Air is deeply connected to our history: Air Afrique, the airline itself, took to the skies to transcend cultures and newly independent African people,” says Ahmadou-Bamba Thiam, a member of the Air Afrique collective and editor of its magazine. “We also speak of Air as a symbolic, metaphorical elevation through culture and humanity. This concept was really our starting point for the product design and was central to creating the elegant silhouette of the Air Max RK61.”
The accompanying Première Classe campaign backdrops the RK61 in a vintage-inspired advertising aesthetic. The campaign brings together Afro-diasporic cultural legends, including Didier Drogba, renowned Malian singer Oumou Sangaré, sprinter Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith, and Mme Daba Traoré, a former employee of the original airline.
“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,” says Jupiter Desphy, the silhouette’s lead designer. “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.”
Founded in 2021 by Lamine Diaoune, Djiby Kebe, Jeremy Konko and Ahmadou-Bamba Thiam, the Air Afrique collective has transformed the airline’s legacy into a multidisciplinary platform for Afro-diasporic cultural expression. The new Air Afrique utilizes visual arts to connect communities, celebrate history, and inspire the next generation.
The Air Afrique x Nike Air Max RK61 marks the debut of Air Afrique’s partnership with Nike.
“We’re very deliberate about who we work with, making sure we uphold the Air Afrique name,” says Ahmadou-Bamba. “Nike is a universal brand with a cultural platform that reaches a wide audience and has always resonated with us, ever since we were kids. There’s intention and distinction in every Nike innovation and design decision, and that’s what connects them to our story with Air Afrique — because that intentionality is at the center of everything we do.”
The Air Afrique x Nike Air Max RK61 will be available globally on October 9th on SNKRS and at select retail partners. Take a closer look below.
Air Afrique x Nike Air Max RK61
Color: Black/Black
Stye Code: HQ6416-001
Release Date: October 9, 2025
Price: $210 USD
Air Afrique x Nike Air Max RK61
Color: Coconut Milk/Coconut Milk
Stye Code: HQ6416-100
Release Date: October 9, 2025
Price: $210 USD
