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The internationally renowned fashion house,Louis Vuitton, recently collaborated with Sotheby’s to launch and auction the “Air Force 1” sneakers, which were designed by the late American fashion designer, Virgil Abloh. Marking the beginning of a series of events scheduled to take place in 2022, the event comprised the auction of 200 special edition pairs of the Louis Vuitton and Nike ‘Air Force 1’ sneakers, enclosed in Louis Vuitton pilot cases. The proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the education of academically promising students of Black, African American, or African descent, through The Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund.
While the starting bid of the shoes was determined as $2000, 200 pairs were auctioned off at a whopping $25.3 million, setting a new record of the highest sneaker and fashion auction ever staged, and the most valuable charity auction at Sotheby’s in nearly ten years. “We are thrilled that the record-breaking fundraising auction for Virgil Abloh’s Post Modern Scholarship Fund has generated such exceptional results. We are proud that thousands of students will be able to benefit from the proceeds, allowing us to continue to uphold Virgil’s mission to inspire and support future generations,” says Micheal Burke, CEO & Chairman of Louis Vuitton.
Designed by Virgil Abloh in collaboration with Louis Vuitton and Nike for the Spring-Summer 2022 Collection, the ‘Air Force 1’ sneakers are made out of calf leather. The skin of the footwear is embellished with the French fashion brand’s emblematic Monogram and Damier pattern and bordered with natural cowhide piping. The auction of the limited edition sneakers, held from 26th January 2022 to 8 February 2022, also served as the launch event for the popular sneakers.
The Nike Air Force 1 sneakers were originally designed in 1982, and went on to become one of the most successful and iconic footwear ever designed. On what would mark the 40th year of these iconic shoes, Abloh collaborated with Nike to commemorate and recreate the footwear in a new design. Made out of materials that are traditionally used in Louis Vuitton’s collections, Abloh merged the elemental features that defined the classic shoe with the French brand’s design sensibility to give form to a design that is iconic and serves as a homage to the hip-hop culture that shaped Abloh’s design constitution.
The Air Force 1 sneakers come in an equally striking pilot case, which was also designed for the Spring-Summer 2022 collection. The case is made out of Monogram Taurillon Leather, and its design is inspired by the fashion brand’s iconic archival collection. Comprising soft engravings of the Monogram and Damier pattern and featuring Louis Vuitton’s classic S-lock closure in white metal finishing, the case was exclusively made available at the auction. It also included a luggage tag in the shape of the Nike Swoosh and a cushioned resting base that can easily adapt according to the size of the shoes placed on them.
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