The Original Six Air Force 1 campaign featuring: Michael Cooper, Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, Calvin Natt, Mychal Thompson and Jamaal Wilkes

A true icon, the Nike Air Force 1 was originally released in high-top form in 1982. The name Air Force 1 was named after the Air Force One plane that flies the President of the United States. The sneakers were so popular that they were the first Nike shoe to ever be retroed.

Nike’s marketing campaign proclaimed that “Air be sold by the box” showcasing their new Nike “Air” technology in the heel area. Additionally, Nike enlisted six of the NBA’s top stars to debut the shoes. This concept would be reintroduced in 2007 marking the 25th anniversary with the slogan “The Second Coming” featuring stars such as LeBron James, Steve Nash, Paul Pierce, Rasheed Wallace, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant and others.

The Air Force 1s grew in popularity and in 2001, Nike unveiled a slew of new colorways and released women’s sizing. New materials, NikeID, and collaborations have led to the expansion of the iconic shoe and it continues to be a staple in everybody’s sneaker collection.