Leaked images have already revealed that Nike Air Safari-inspired colorways are coming to a range of basketball and running sneakers later in July to coincide with the Paris Olympics. Now, it’s been confirmed that the actual source material will make its return in its OG colorway.
The Nike Air Safari “Black/Monarch” brings back the shoe’s original colorway from 1987. Tinker Hatfield designed the model and had the idea of bringing an animal print to a sneaker after seeing an ostrich skin couch in New York City. “I only remember one person thinking this was a good idea,” Hatfield said in a Nike interview for the 30th anniversary of the Air Safari. ‘Fashion’ was still a very dirty word, it was something we didn’t use around here.”
The Air Safari’s revival maintains its seminal color scheme featuring black and brown leather along with an ostrich skin-inspired pattern on the mudguard, heel and collar. Nike last released the shoe in its “Black/Monarch” colorway in 2018, and no version of the Air Safari has been made available since 2019.
Atmos helped bring the Air Safari back into the spotlight in 2003 through the very first collaboration on the Air Max 1 for its 15th anniversary. The Japanese boutique took inspiration from the Air Safari’s OG colorway for its Air Max 1. Many sneakerheads consider it the best Air Max 1 of all-time, and it’s gone on to inspire a number of other releases, including several additional Atmos x Nike collaborations.
Following the return of the Air Safari, similar colorways will release July 24 for the AlphaFly 3 and Nike’s series of G.T. basketball sneakers.
The Nike Air Safari “Black/Monarch” will release July 19 through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $140.
Ian Servantes is a Senior 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.
