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The game changer AF1

 As we get carried away by the new sneakers on the market, we tend to forget the OG Air Force 1, which was a true game changer for Nike. The best part is that when the Air Force 1 was released, it was initially used for basketball. In this blog, we will detail the differences between the Air Force 1 of 1982 and the current model. The OG Air Force 1 may have seemed unattractive, but it had features that are missing in the present version. The main aspect we’ll focus on is comfort, particularly the sole. The AF1 utilized Air Sole technology, which was first introduced in the Nike Tailwind, designed by Frank Rudy. The sole provided excellent grip, addressing a common issue faced by earlier basketball players, who often used multiple layers of socks to create a softer cushion for their feet. Nike’s introduction of Air Sole technology revolutionized this experience. The OG AF1 even featured a strap on the tongue of the shoe for added stability. Additionally, the outsole design, with its...

The Sneaker History

 Did you know that the sneaker game didn’t start in the 1900s like most people think? Here’s the real story: the first sneaker actually hit the scene in 1876, in Liverpool, England. And we owe a lot to Charles Goodyear, who, way back in 1839, stumbled upon the perfect material for sneakers—rubber. The first sneakers, called plimsolls, were made for beach lovers and had a canvas top with a rubber sole, making them ideal for seaside strolls. People even nicknamed them "sand shoes" since they were so popular around the UK’s beaches. If you’ve seen today’s Converse, they look a lot like those classic plimsolls. Goodyear actually discovered vulcanized rubber by accident—he was just trying to waterproof a letter. But when he saw how the treated rubber became strong and weather-resistant, he knew he was onto something. That accidental discovery became a game-changer for the sneaker world! Jumping forward to the early 1900s, the word “sneaker” was already a thing in the U.S., but com...