Nearly two decades after Nike released its stunning 2006 NBA All-Star Air Force 1, the Swoosh is bringing back the cosmic concepts with a brand new AF-1 that carries the same celestial energy that made the original pair one of the most coveted basketball sneakers of the mid-2000s.
Dubbed "The Observatory Collection," this new interpretation replaces the original's navy and metallic silver color block with a deeper infinity-blue base, featuring shimmering constellations embroidered across the tumbled leather upper. The NYC-appropriate esthetic nods to both the original shoe's Houston All-Star heritage while updating its galactic points of reference.
"To this day, collectors reference the '06 All-Star as the Air Force 1 grail they regret not buying. It represented a full-circle moment when performance basketball seeped back into the AF-1 after years of street-only styling," explained footwear historian Marcus Johnson.
Noticeable similarities between the old and new interpretations include:
- A star-dappled tongue label comparable to satellite imagery
- The return of holographic heel counters, now with laser-etched nebulae patterns
- Glow-in-the-dark constellation outsole mapping night skies on each wear date
- Embossed silver accent lines mimicking telescope search patterns
Unlike the ultra-limited 2,006 pairs released for the All-Star Game, this new version will reportedly be a general release with sizing available for men, women and grade school sneakerheads alike.