Nike's latest Star-Studded Air Force 1 release is turning heads with celestial-themed details that look like they came straight from the galaxy, but sneaker historians will recognize this isn't the first time the Swoosh has paired cosmic inspiration with basketball culture.
"The Constellation AF1 immediately took me back to the 2006 NBA All-Star Game in Houston," says footwear expert Jason Rodriguez from HoustonVans.com. "That year's ASG had the whole space theme - from the jerseys to the player accessories. They even projected star fields on the court during timeouts."
The similarities are indeed striking. The new "Constellation" AF1 features:
- Holographic star patterns on the leather upper
- Translucent outsole with blue/galactic nebula coloration
- Silver Swoosh representing meteor trails
- Custom star-forming-subnebula hangtag