The shoe doctor called—20/40 brings the vision. Celebrating 40 years of hoops-to-street style, the AF-1 “West Indies” returns to true form.
Originally dropped 20 years ago, the White and Classic Green colourway was the first of 4 releases celebrating NYC’s West Indian Day Parade Carnival. Crisp leather, embroidered details and island-hopping insoles reinforce its appeal while the mesh collar, woven tongue label and “West Indies” dubrae up your game with off-court allure. In 2002, Bruce Kilgore’s iconic design appeared in a straightforward, but fresh ensemble dedicated to the West Indies. The cluster of 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories include Haiti, Jamaica and Barbados, all with large diasporas across New York City. The 20-year-old Air Force 1 dons a predominantly white outfit complimented by vibrant green across the outsole, inner-lining and upper heel panel. “WEST INDIES” and the accompanying palm tree image embroidered onto the lateral heel, however, are the highlight of the shoe, nodding to communities that’ve helped popularize Kilgore’s creation in Brooklyn and beyond.
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Vlad Ciutacu is a writer based in The Hague, Netherlands. He has been working in the footwear industry for more than a decade, with hundreds of pairs in his collection. His favourite models are the Air Jordan 1 and the Nike SB Dunk Low Pro. Find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
