New take on a late '90s Nike Basketball classic
Supreme continues their long-standing partnership with Nike and turns to a rather familiar silhouette for their latest project. While it is a first for Supreme, it is surely not the first time we've seen the Nike Air Bakin on a retro run. The Nike Basketball model had a bit of a controversial beginning back in 1997, which prompted the company to adjust the heel logo from a fiery designed Air text to the standard stacked Nike Air with the Swoosh jetting between, after drawing ire for a look that resembled "Allah" in Arabic text.
From that point forward, the Air Bakin has found itself as a bit of a cult classic while famously being worn by Tim Hardaway during the same season. The model has returned on a couple of occasions; 2007, 2013/2014 and technically 2017 as the Air Bakin Posite sneaker-boot but the traditional motif has been confined to the vault since the mid-2010s.
The paternal Supreme x Air Bakins come in two looks; the first is a sunset gradient upper moving from yellow to purple (toe to heel) and brings back the OG red accenting and bold black base. The latter is an all-white stark look, top-to-bottom and features a yellow set of laces which also pays homage to the 1997 original design element. Both pairs will come with an extra set of laces. Personalizing the pairs is the Supreme typeface on the heel loops, and dual-branding on the hangtag and insoles. And a stylized NYC on the heel which is a loose play on the OG banned AIR font.
Release of the collaboration is set for Thursday, March 2nd in-store and online at Supreme and March 4th in Japan.
Supreme x Nike Air Bakin
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