The Art of Displaying and Caring For Your Nike Air Force 1s Like A Pro
Everyone wears Nike. The universal brand dominates athletic and lifestyle wear, offering everything from shoes to hoodies across the globe. You’d be hard-pressed to find a household absent of at least one of their famously patented swooshes. While most brands that achieve such complete ubiquity don’t ever simultaneously enjoy a cult-like following of niche experts, Nike bridges both worlds with their now-classic Air Force 1s. Introduced in 1982 as a technical novelty in basketball footwear, the innovative sneakers debuted Nike’s new Air technology designed to dominate the court.
Caring For Your Nike AF1s
Taking care of and displaying your Nike Air Force 1 sneakers means more than the Average Joe’s routine of throwing sneakers in the washer after another day in the dirt. That’s because Nike AF1 wearers know the shoes aren’t just classically stylish or technologically groundbreaking. In the basketball world, they’re both.
1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Stuff Your Nike Air Force 1 Sneakers With Newspaper
You don’t always have to spend money to make money (or save money if your Uptowns are lifers). Old newspapers, while easy to come by, are a sneaker lifesaver when preserving the lifetime of your favorite street shoes. If you walk the talk and wear your AF1s, one of the first signs of aging will be the infamous toe wrinkle that will inevitably form with regular wear. Stuff your shoes with old newspapers between uses to slow the aging process. This practice will help your sneakers retain their crisp new-shoe form, and the paper material will help absorb moisture and unwanted odors.
2. Prevention Is The Best Medicine
Avoiding adverse weather when your sneakers meet the pavement is the obvious and most effective preventative measure for caring for your shoes. Sometimes unpredictable weather happens, and it’s best to be prepared for when (not if) that happens. Using protective spray-on products can help shield your shoes in advance from the grime they’ll encounter in everyday life. They also make cleaning much easier when it comes time for sneaker care day (another form of self-care in our book).
Displaying your Nike Air Force 1s (The Right Way)
With the devout care and attention you put into your AF1s, they deserve to be displayed proudly on your feet, walls, or both. Incorporate your beloved sneakers into your living space; don’t let them disappear in safely out-of-sight shoe boxes. Show off your collection by incorporating it into your living space.
The next best thing to a closet specially designated to housing your sneakers is a floating shelf display. Truthfully, this might be even better than a particular room hiding in the back of your house. Floating shelves uniquely express your passion for the art and culture of Nike. The affordable and easy-to-install option creates more space for a growing and evolving collection.
Celebrate The Culture
With these tips, your shoes are ready to be shined up and displayed the way they deserve – and the way that will make your fellow sneakerheads jealous of your well-curated collection. Take care of your Nike AF1s; they may serve you for life.
Feature Photo by Rick Govic on Unsplash
