After the tribute show organized in December in Miami, the special display in the windows of Milan, Louis Vuitton auctions at Sotheby’s the Nike sneakers “Air Force 1” designed by Virgil Abloh and presented during the S/S 2022 show. Considered a true “object of memory and childhood” by the American designer, who has repeatedly stated that they were the first shoes he was gifted and to which he was particularly attached, from January 26 to February 8, 200 pairs of Louis Vuitton and Nike Air Force 1 in a limited edition will be auctioned online on sothebys.com, in a special reissue of the latest model designed by Virgil himself before his passing, made in an exclusive colorway for this occasion. The proceeds will go to the “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund, a foundation created by Abloh that is committed to supporting the education of students of Black, African-American, or African descent with promising academic futures. The auction marks the official launch of these first Louis Vuitton and Nike “Air Force 1” pairs, created in collaboration between the two brands, and will see the limited edition available in a range of sizes from 35 to 47, purchasable with a starting bid of $2,000 (approximately €1,765) per pair. The Air Force 1 is a model first designed in 1982, which celebrates its fortieth anniversary this year, remaining one of the most successful products ever created in the sneaker industry. The LV branded ones were made in Fiesso d’Artico, Italy, with the same materials used in Abloh’s men’s collections, blending hip-hop culture trainer codes with Louis Vuitton logos and materials. The quotation marks, a graphic reference used by the designer to sign his works, are prominently displayed. Made entirely of premium leather, they are adorned with the iconic Monogram and Damier prints, among the most iconic and recognizable of the brand. Each pair will be sold in a Pilot Case reinterpreted from the Maison’s archives in a combination of orange panels and taurillon leather with Monogram print. The bag features Louis Vuitton’s classic S-lock in a metallic white finish and includes a luggage tag shaped like the iconic Swoosh logo. Those unable to participate in the auction can admire Virgil Abloh’s “Air Force 1” and the Pilot Case travel bag at the Sotheby’s New York auction house in a free public exhibition open from January 19 to February 8.