With its RTFKT Dunk Genesis sneaker on the way for NFT holders, Nike is preparing to release another sneaker with origins in the metaverse.
The Air Force 1 Low “TINAJ,” short for “This Is Not a JPEG,” will release this month as the first physical sneaker to come out of the .Swoosh digital platform. Exclusive access will be given to holders of the Our Force 1 NFTs, which released earlier this year for $19.82 a piece and tokenized some of the most iconic Air Force 1s in the history of the model. In addition to requiring a purchase of one of the NFT boxes, the owner will have had to open it to reveal the sneaker inside in order to buy the physical shoe.
This limited-edition Air Force 1 sees the upper split into black and white halves with hits of blue embroidered branding, including the words, “This Is Not a JPEG” surrounding a Swoosh on the lateral heel. A white midsole then sits atop a translucent outsole with feint traces of blue.
With the bubble for NFTs bursting spectacularly, and with many rejoicing over the development, Nike’s dual slate of token-based sneakers could signal a path forward for the medium. Lack of utility has been one of the primary criticisms of digital tokens since the jump, and Nike is utilizing them as a means of exclusivity for real-life sneakers. Of course, scarcity only matters if the product involved is coveted enough — and this month will tell just how much people care about the Dunks remixed by RTFKT, the digital sneaker studio purchased by Nike in 2021, and Air Force 1s commemorating being a part of the .Swoosh club.
The Nike Air Force 1 Low “TINAJ” will release Oct. 20 through Exclusive Access on the SNKRS app. Owners of the Our Force 1 NFTS will be notified when they’ve been granted access to purchase the shoe for $120.
Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
