What better way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month than with a fresh pair of kicks, right? Well, I’m sure there are many ways to celebrate our Latino roots, but still, this new line of sneakers by Nike still deserves the attention.
Los Primeros, is a limited line of Latino-inspired sneakers, that pay homage to our heritage in this special month. Nike made sure to invite celebrated Latino artists to help them re-design some of their more famous models, in order to give them that fashionable Latino twist that has been on everybody’s radar lately.
Like for example the Wasafu X Nike Air Max 1, that features the classic design lines and inspired details that made the shoe so popular in the first place, but now with a Latino spice to it for added flavor.
The textile and synthetic construction of this sneaker provides premium comfort, along with the foam midsole for lightweight cushioning. The rubber thread also delivers durable traction for those long urban walks.
But, those are just technicalities, what makes this shoe so special, is that Nike partnered with Chilean street artist, Wasafu, to deliver this homage to the Ona people of the the Patagonia, who for centuries have had to migrate from the unforgiving conditions of their hostile environment in search for better opportunities and hope, a story that we as Latino people have come to known only to well. Wasafu’s artwork on the classic Nike Air Max 1, intends to represent how the Ona people express themselves through ceremonial body paint, his subtle work on this shoe carries very deep symbolism, making this shoe a work of art on its very own.
Now let’s check out a favorite among the Latino communities in the United States, the infamous Nike Cortez! For this model, Nike partnered with another Chilean street artist that goes by the name of INTI, who took symbols from various Latin American cultures, to adorn the classical Cortez silhouette and give us what he calls the ONE HEART sneaker, it’s fair to say that this intriguing model, will be a favorite among Nike enthusiasts world wide.
No new line of Nike shoes can be complete without the Air Force 1, this acclaimed sneaker was redesigned by a young Mexican artist called Saner, who drew his inspiration from the pre-Hispanic cultures that believed in the mystical powers of the Jaguar. The Jaguar’s eyes on the heel of this Air Force 1 model, gives us a glimpse of the cosmovision that once ruled over this continent.
And of course this collection wouldn’t be complete without a redesign of the people’s favorites, the Air Jordan 1. This time, Nike went to Sao Paulo, Brazil, to get street artist Pomb, to work on a sneaker that could celebrate the rich history and diversity of the Latino culture. Pomb took from a simple Brazilian phrase “é tudo nosso,” (it’s all ours: mines and yours) to reflect the story of our people and its perseverance to achieve their wildest dreams.
Most of this shoes are already available at the Nike webstore, and range from 100-160 dollars, get them while they’re hot!