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In 1979, Nike launched its first running shoe with Air Technology. Since Basketball players also undergo extreme physical strain Nike designers realized that Basketball may profit from this modern cushioning. Before Nike Air Technology was integrated in basketball shoes, many players used to wear several socks on top of each other to protect themselves from the impact of jumping.
In 1982 the Air Force 1 was launched. The name refers to the airplane used to transport the President of the United States of America. It was the first Nike basketball shoe integrating Nike Air Technology and it became one of the most popular shoes on the toughest playgrounds in the world.
After the first production wave of Nike Air Force 1 in 1984, Air Force 1 was suddenly hard to come by and the demand grew when three retailers convinced Nike to take up production of a completely new series in various coloured designs. The popularity of Air Force 1 rose continually. Starting from the East Coast of the USA Nike Air Force 1 carried its success out into the whole world.
Hip Hop has played a defining role in the growth of the Air Force One´s popularity. During the 80´s, as Hip Hop became more recognized, so did the Air Force 1´s as well. At that time it was typical to see an entertainer rapping on the microphone while wearing a pair of Air Force Ones. Many upcoming artists rose to the top while wearing and rapping about their Air Force 1 sneakers.
Re-released in 1986 the Air Force 1 has the modern italic Nike logo with a Swoosh on the bottom on the back of the shoe. Only a little bit has changed to the Air Force One since its creation in 1982.
Since then, over 1,700 color variations have been produced. They have been issued in low top versions, mid tops, and high tops. Though their original purpose is basketball, many consumers wear them strictly for show. There have been made editions specially for athletes or to represent a country. Nike has released so many version of the Air Force 1 that no collector has them all in stock.
In 1987 Nike introduced the „Air Force 2“, a newer variation of the original. The shoe is a typical flat soled, casual-wear sneaker that can be made in many different variations of colors. Also, Air Force 2s were re-released in the early 2000's. They can be made in either the low-cut or high-top style. The shoe can be custom made in any color, but typically it has either a white or black based background color with almost any color used to fill in the Nike Swoosh and back heel.
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