©Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton, in collaboration with Sotheby's auction house, the world's premier destination for art and luxury, will auction 200 pairs of Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh special edition sneakers housed in the Maison's pilot case. The auction marks the kickoff of a series of events planned by Louis Vuitton over the course of a year, beginning in January 2022. Proceeds from the auction will benefit The Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund. In partnership with the Fashion Scholarship Fund, the Foundation supports the education of academically outstanding students of Black, African American, or African descent.

This auction will feature the Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh, a collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Nike, designed by Virgil Abloh for the Spring/Summer 2022 collection. Prior to his death on November 28, 2021, as Louis Vuitton's Men's Artistic Director, he was involved in the launch of this auction and its related events. The auction is being held in collaboration with Virgil's family.


Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh to appear at Sotheby's auction

The Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh online auction (Sothebys.com/NikexLV), which will run from Wednesday, January 26th to Tuesday, February 8th, will feature 200 pairs of Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh, originally created for the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2022 Men's Collection.

The 200 pairs of special edition sneakers will be offered in a wide range of sizes, from 5-18 (Japanese sizes: 24.5-31cm), with a minimum bid of $2,000. Crafted entirely from precious calfskin, these sneakers feature the Maison's signature Monogram and Damier patterns, accented with natural cowhide piping.

These sneakers will be sold in a special Louis Vuitton pilot case crafted from Taurillon Monogram leather. The pilot case, featured in the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2022 collection, reinterprets the Maison's archives in the Maison's iconic orange colorway.

The pilot case features Louis Vuitton's classic S-lock in white metal. It also comes with a luggage tag featuring the Nike Swoosh logo. Thanks to its internal cushioning system, this pilot case fits shoes of all sizes snugly, making it exclusive to this auction.

Sotheby's has a track record for handling many of the rarest and most desirable sneakers, and holds the highest auction record for any sneaker.

In accordance with Virgil Abloh's wishes, proceeds from this auction will be donated to the Virgil Abloh ™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund.

©Louis Vuitton


Louis Vuitton and Nike Air Force 1 Collaboration by Virgil Abloh

Introduced in 1982, the Nike Air Force 1 remains one of the most iconic sneaker models in history, even 40 years later. For the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2022 Men's Collection, announced in June 2021, Virgil Abloh collaborated with Nike to design 47 pairs of the Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh sneakers.

©Louis Vuitton
Crafted using materials featured in Virgil's Louis Vuitton Men's Collection, the sneakers combine classic trainer cords with Louis Vuitton's iconic logos and materials, paying homage to the hip-hop culture that shaped his worldview. The sneakers feature Virgil's signature quotes, echoing the cursive graphics he chooses to embellish his own creations. Each style designed for the show was crafted in Louis Vuitton's shoe atelier in Fiesso d'Artico, Italy. The actual Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh and pilot case will be on free public display at an exhibition at Sotheby's New York from Wednesday, January 19 to Tuesday, February 8.


The Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund

In July 2020, Virgil Abloh established the Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund in partnership with the Fashion Scholarship Foundation (FSF). Launched with $1 million from his own donation and contributions from partner companies including Evian, Farfetch, Louis Vuitton, New Guards Group, and Nike, the fund's mission is to promote equality and inclusion in the fashion industry by providing scholarships to academically outstanding students of Black, African American, or African descent.

©Louis Vuitton
Virgil Abloh named the fund "Postmodern" to reflect the fact that through FSF, scholars will receive not only tuition assistance but also ongoing career support services and mentoring. "Postmodern" scholars are selected each year from FSF's network of more than 66 universities across the United States, including eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), through an annual FSF scholarship competition.


Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh Sneaker Community Campaign

Starting January 19, 2022, to build buzz for the auction, Virgil Abloh and the individuals who inspired the collaboration will receive a Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh. These unique colorways will not be available at auction or later produced. This initiative pays homage to Abloh's recognition of the original Nike Air Force 1 sneakers as cultural symbols embodying the hip-hop heritage he grew up admiring. Throughout his time at Louis Vuitton, he has highlighted the cultures and communities that shaped his upbringing and vision.

©Louis Vuitton
Virgil sees this special Nike Air Force 1 as a symbol of this community, and the recipients of the Louis Vuitton and Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh certainly reflect this sentiment.


About the Louis Vuitton and Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh Exhibition and In-Store Availability

Louis Vuitton will host an exhibition featuring 47 original sneakers from the Spring/Summer 2022 Men's Collection. Details of the exhibition, which will serve as a precursor to the general release of the Louis Vuitton and Nike Air Force 1 sneakers, will be announced at a later date. The limited-edition sneakers will be sold exclusively through the Louis Vuitton store network. The general release will feature colorways different from those available at auction in January and will be sold at a price consistent with the minimum bid.

©Louis Vuitton

[Credit]
Louis Vuitton for NIKE
"Air Force 1”
Beaverton, OR USA
c. 1982


[About Sotheby's]


About Louis Vuitton
編集部