Nike Presents Its First-Ever Virtual Sneaker Collection, ‘Our Force 1s’
Have you run out of space in your shoe cabinet to store new kicks? Perhaps it’s time to invest in digital ones, then. Luckily for you, you can start right about now. After launching its .SWOOSH platform to buy and sell digital clothing and accessories, Nike has finally teased its first-ever virtual collection to help you cross into the metaverse… or wherever the kids are going these days.
Dubbed the Our Force 1 (or OF1) series, the first of Nike’s experimental sneakers that you can’t physically walk in are inspired by the Air Force 1 Low, and arrive in two types of boxes: ‘Classic Remix’ and ‘New Wave’. Each is priced at US$19.82, alluding to the birth year of AF1 footwear.
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The virtual kicks will be available to select customers of the .SWOOSH community via invitation on May 8, and general access will be ready on May 10. These invites appear in the form of free virtual posters, unleashed—or “Airdropped”—at random to 106,453 members on April 18. Eligible early-bird buyers include those who have registered for a .SWOOSH session or have participated in Nike’s #OurForce1 design challenge.
As noted by Engadget, you won’t know what’s inside your digital box until Nike reveals all of them sometime after May 10.
What’s clear is that if you select a ‘Classic Remix’ box, you’ll receive an archival design from 1982 to 2006, or a nostalgic remix of the silhouette. A ’New Wave’ box will get you a digital version of AF1s from 2007 or later, or a rendition with “a more futuristic twist.” The collection of over 100,000 looks also includes four winning designs from Nike’s ‘Your Force 1’ contest.
Every purchase comes with a 3D file that users can export to other compatible platforms.
Despite strictly walking in the metaverse, these sneakers will soon have real-world applications, as well. Nike has promised that items in its .SWOOSH platform will include exclusive physical experiences or unlock physical goods too.
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[via Engadget and Sneaker News, images via Nike]
