Throughout 2020, we’ve partnered with Nike for a series of exclusive projects; to round the year off, we’ve teamed up with the Oregon-based brand for a collaborative rendition of arguably the biggest Nike models of them all: the Air Force 1.

The Air Force 1 is one of the most iconic silhouettes of all time, and back in the day, it gained its cult status thanks to its regionally exclusive releases. Collectors would essentially travel the world to hunt them down, and to bring back that element of geographically-themed shoes, we’ve worked with Nike to create an Air Force 1 that’s inspired by the location of one of our very first size? stores and home to size? HQ – Manchester.

Manchester is a city of grit, resilience and determination, and no matter how many times it gets knocked down, it always gets back up fighting. Ever since the industrial revolution, Manchester has often been referred to as a ‘hive’ of activity, and for over 150 years, one symbol has become synonymous with the city: the worker bee.

A symbol of hard work and unity, the worker bee was one of the starting points for the Air Force 1 Manchester’s design, and we’ve sat it proudly towards the rear of the shoe in honorary fashion.

A combination of high-quality leather and suede builds the upper of the low-riding model, and we’ve kept the palette quite subtle, using a mixture of tans and browns alongside a sail midsole and grey outsole.

There are also a few other finer details that represent the North West city: ‘0161’ embroidery decorates the tongue, which has also been constructed in a honeycomb mesh design, again nodding back to the bee and the city of Manchester.

That’s not all though, no; 10% of each sale of our exclusive Nike Air Force 1 ‘Manchester’ will be donated to the city’s We Love MCR Charity – ‘Rising Stars’ Fund. The charity works to support young Mancunians from disadvantage backgrounds to help gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to succeed; you can find out more about them here.

You can enter the draw for our exclusive Nike Air Force 1 ‘Manchester’ via the size? launches app now; it’s priced at £130 and available in both men’s and women’s sizes. Good luck!