Nike and Air Afrique blur the lines between heritage and future with the new Air Max RK61 silhouette. Forget what you know about "dress shoes" - the next chapter is written by the diaspora.
In a world where sneakers have long since transcended the confines of the gym and become a key fashion item, Nike proves once again that true mastery lies in the combination of technology, culture and bold elegance of design. In collaboration with the Parisian creative collective Air Africa a shoemaker's manifesto was created that fashion had never seen before: Air Max RK61 – a visual tribute to the heritage that shaped the world and an emotional salute to everyone who has ever wanted to fly (if not with an airplane, then at least with aesthetics).
Dior would be proud. If only the Air Max had a bubble.
The new silhouette isn't just a shoe treat for sneaker enthusiasts. The Air Max RK61 is dress shoes reinterpreted – with an elegant upper that flirts with loafers and the nostalgic spirit of the airline industry. Yes, you read that right. Shoes that you would happily wear to a gala dinner, but at the same time will shamelessly accompany you to the last gate at the airport.
The name RK61 is no coincidence – it is the code of the legendary African airline Air Afrique, founded in 1961. This airline was not just a means of transportation, but a cultural institution that connected West Africa with the rest of the world, even before “cultural exchange programs” became cool.
When design speaks in Morse code (literally)
The RK61's details are so meticulously thought out that even a haute couture studio would envy them. A sole with hidden Morse code spelling out "Air Afrique"? A badge with the original airline's logo? An insole reminiscent of vintage airline seats? Let's face it, more airline than Ryanair, more elegant than Emirates first class.
And then there's the technology: the comfort of the legendary Air Max bubble combines with a design sophistication usually reserved for shoes from Italian workshops. "Sport meets sprezzatura," if you will.
Culture as a runway
“Air is a symbol of our rise, our culture, our history,” explains Ahmadou-Bamba Thiam, a member of the Air Afrique collective and editor of their eponymous magazine. And it is this idea of rise – metaphorical and actual – that is the driving force behind this project.
Reviving the spirit of the legendary airline in 2021, the Air Afrique collective operates as a cultural platform that combines visual arts, film, photography and now – footwear. Their collaboration with Nike is not a coincidence, but a thoughtful synergy of two forces that know how to tell stories that go beyond the catwalk.
A campaign that deserves its own runway
For the campaign Premiere Classe, which accompanies the release of RK61, could be said to be Dior’s “New Look” meets Afrofuturistic nostalgia. The campaign features cultural icons representing different layers of African and diasporic identity: from football legend Didier Drogba, to the music icon Oumou Sangaré, sprinters Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith, and all the way to Mrs. Dabe Traoré – former employees of the original Air Afrique airline. Intergenerational, strong and very “editorial ready”.
Air Max RK61: more than shoes. It's a manifesto.
This collaboration is not just another in a series of collaborations. The Air Max RK61 is a tribute to history, a tribute to the future, and proof that fashion can serve as a cultural bridge. It is a shoemaker's ode to mobility - the real, physical one, and the symbolic one that lifts us beyond borders and labels.
If fashion hasn't convinced you yet that shoes can carry stories, then RK61 carries an entire novel. And one that reads with a sense of elegance, comfort, and a strong cultural message.
Nike x Air Afrique Air Max RK61 will be available globally from October 9th via SNKRS and selected sales partners. Get ready for takeoff.
