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Nike unveiled a ton of new styles at its NRG showroom during Paris Fashion Week and we were lucky enough to get a preview of what’s to come from the Swoosh in 2027.
While eccentric outside-the-box designs like the Square Toe Air Force 1 made headlines, there was another AF-1 that caught our attention: the Air Force 1 ’01 “Shoe Dog.”
Dressed in white leather with metallic silver overlays, the shoe is inspired by the origins of Nike and the entrepreneurial spirit of co-founder Phil Knight. In 1964, 26-year-old Phil Knight began selling imported Onitsuka Tiger running shoes out of the trunk of his green Plymouth Valiant. He would pull up to track meets across the Pacific Northwest to sell the shoes directly to runners, grossing roughly $8,000 during his first year in business—just enough to help fund the early expansion of Blue Ribbon Sports, which would eventually become Nike in 1971.
The chrome and green color scheme directly references Phil’s Plymouth Valiant, often regarded as Nike’s first “store.” Phil Knight’s initials are stamped on the dog bone-shaped lace dubraes, a nod to both his “Shoe Dog” nickname and the title of his 2016 memoir. Inside, the insoles are printed with a recreation of the original buyer’s order for the Valiant, while an embroidered “Thank You Phil” patch serves as a tribute from Nike to the man who started it all.
The release also arrives on Nike’s recently introduced Air Force 1 ’01 mold, featuring the sleeker, lower-profile shape that predates the chunkier Air Force 1 ’07 found on shelves today. After bringing the coveted ’01 build back through the NIGO collaboration and the “Triple White” release, Nike continues expanding the shape with one of its most story-driven Air Force 1s yet.
The Nike Air Force 1 ’01 “Shoe Dog” is slated to release in Spring/Summer 2027 on SNKRS and at select retailers. Grab a first look below and stay tuned to Modern Notoriety for more.
Nike Air Force 1 ’01 “Shoe Dog”
Style Code: IX8503-100
Release Date: Spring 2027
