If you grew up in New York City, Chicago or other major U.S. city with a large Puerto Rican diaspora, you’re likely familiar with how electrifying any Puerto Rican Day celebration is. Since the early 2000s, NIKE, Inc. has taken the early June event as an opportunity to celebrate a community that embraced its Nike Air Force 1 Low in neighborhoods like East Harlem.
Over the last few years, Puerto Rico-inspired pairs of Bruce Kilgore’s 40-year-old design have resulted in controversy for the Swoosh. Incorrect symbolism and misplaced details have plagued Nike’s efforts, and while the upcoming “Boricua”-themed Air Force 1 seems to have gotten all manufacturing errors out of the way, netizens have already taken to social media to ask: “What’s ‘Boricua’ about the shoes?”
Past iterations of the Puerto Rico-informed Air Force 1 Low have kept things simple in colorway, nodding to “La Isla del Encanto” with the territory’s flag and the coquí, a species of frog endemic to island. Nike’s 2022 proposition indulges in a mismatched, multi-colored style across its upper, perhaps a nod to some of the food, flora and more emblematic of P.R. A domino piece lands as the right shoe’s lace dubrae, while Borinquen’s modern-day name appears on the same shoe’s upper heel overlay. Lastly, sock-liners are stamped with various touch points that should trigger some emotional response within Boricuas (i.e. “Viejo San Juan,” “Pa’lante Wepa”).
Enjoy an early look at the pair ahead, courtesy of Instagram account @prvt.selection. A Nike SNKRS release date should coincide with NYC’s Puerto Rican Day Parade on June 12th.
For more swoosh-branded footwear, check out the Air Jordan 1‘s upcoming styles.
The Nike Air Force 1 “Boricua” Features Mismatched Multi-Colored Uppers
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