Nike Air Force 1 Low x Off-White™ ‘MCA’

This monochrome Nike Air Force 1 Low x Off-White™ ‘MCA’ sneaker extends Virgil Abloh’s range of AF1 designs with another stylish colourway that celebrates the designer’s Figures of Speech exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. It rests upon a classic sole unit featuring a bouncy pocket of Nike Air in the heel that is highlighted not only by the familiar embossed lettering on the lateral midsole, but also by a second set of text printed in white Helvetica font above it. Below this layer lies an outsole with circular grip formations that provide the ideal level of traction to complement the comfort of the midsole.

Aside from the white lettering on its lateral side, the sole unit is fully covered in University Blue shading, something which is also true of the leather panels that form the upper. There is a forefoot mudguard and a rear overlay, both of which are connected to the midfoot sections via dual lines of precise stitching. The forefoot overlay has another pair of stitched lines that skirt around the edge of the toe box. This segment has rows of perforations that work together with those in the midfoot to aerate and cool the foot. Meanwhile, the University Blue eyestay is tied together with white laces that have the word “Shoelaces” written on them in blue text. A bright red zip tie has been looped around them to act as another powerful symbol of the Off-White™ brand.

At the heel, a strip of leather runs from the midsole all the way up to the collar, obscuring part of the swoosh-adorned heel panel along the way. Zigzag stitching adds an energetic touch along the edges of this leather band, with a similar effect on the sidewall swooshes. These classic features standout strongly in a reflective Metallic Silver that gives the flanks an attractive shimmer. While the lateral logo has a red tag emerging from its bottom edge, the medial one has been placed over four lines of white text, making them only partially visible. They hold information such as the names of both brands and the location of Nike’s headquarters.

Elsewhere, the light blue tongue is filled with puffy foam that can be seen along its peak. There is also exposed foam on the top of the collar, thus boosting the off-kilter look of this shoe. Inside, University Blue tones continue, covering the inner lining as well as the insole. Dual branding is printed in white atop this last feature, with the word “Nike” and a swoosh beside Off-White™’s criss-cross arrow logo. Finally, A white label has been sewn into the lateral side of the tongue, its surface decorated with further branding effects to emphasise the collaborative nature of this exclusive sneaker.