Nike SB x Air Jordan for Another Lance Mountain-Inspired AJ1 Low

QUICK TAKE:

Nike SB has had an eventful 2019, working with new skate brands like Polar and classic streetwear stalwarts like FPAR to get a much-needed influx of collaborative variation to the overall collection. The Swoosh subsidiary has also begun to work more heavily with its sister brands- spurred on by Nike SB team member and skateboarding legend Eric Koston, a Nike SB-inspired AJ1 low released earlier in the summer. Nike SB and Jordan Brand decided to run it back for another Air Jordan 1 low, this iteration influenced by legendary skater Lance Mountain, whose DIY customization of his Nike skate shoes has been well-documented and capitalized on by the skateboarding brand.

DESIGN:

At first glance, this Nike SB x AJ1 low features an upper cloaked in a fabric of tan canvas. Upon closer inspection; however, each shoe is actually a distinct colorway beneath the tan overlay. The right shoe opts for a UNC-inspired light blue, while the left shoe has a darker navy and royal blue colorway. The color differences can be found on the sole, tongue tab, and inner liners of each shoe, respectively. The expectation is that the wearer will tear apart the bland tan to reveal the unique colorways below, which references the way Lance Mountain used to customize his own Air Jordans. The final detail is the insole graphic, which features an interesting split graphic referencing the split nature of the shoes.

ANALYSIS:

While Lance Mountain is not ripping up as many shoes skating these days as he used to, his influence has marked the Nike SB organization. Nike has continued to come up with ways to create new value for customers, from modular Swoosh attachments to Nike SB models with second colorways only revealed through wear. Although these details may be seen as gimmicky by some, the brand is still thinking outside of the box.