Highsnobiety
comme-des-garcons-nike-air-force-1-collab-2022 (3)
UNITED ARROWS

COMME des GARÇONS has issued its fair share of killer Nike collabs (and the occasional meh one) but perhaps its best Swoosh team-ups involve the iconic Air Force 1.

So it's a little surprising to see COMME des GARÇONS and Nike get back together for a unique AF1 and then kinda drop the ball.

In fairness, these new shoes are dropping under weird circumstances.

On March 23, Japanese retailer UNITED ARROWS is bringing together pals like COMME des GARÇONS, New Balance, and suitmaker Caruso for a special event called "Free Suit," which inexplicably serves as the release event for CdG's new Nikes and doesn't actually include any collaborative New Balances (Tokyo Design Studio collabs and in-line models will be available).

Perhaps that's why these new Air Force 1s are a relatively stock affair, with a metallic Swoosh plastered across the toebox of a plain white sneaker.

The shoes drop alongside some new CdG-branded coaches jackets and collaborative Caruso wool suiting, all issued under COMME des GARÇONS' HOMME DEUX tailoring-focused sub-label.

Along with CdG HOMME, Junya Watanabe used to oversee this line and I frankly don't know if he still does — it's not like COMME des GARÇONS makes its corporate structure remotely transparent — but both HOMME and HOMME DEUX retain cues of his work, including drop-crotched workwear in the former and patchwork shirting in the latter.

Shame that CdG's latest AF1 is relatively tame, considering the winning streak it's been on recently.

The recent GORE-TEX HOMME New Balance 57/40 were strong, the forthcoming Salomon collaboration looks as good as ever, and even the special CdG BAPESTAs hit the spot.

But you can't win 'em all. Plus, maybe simple is best: the youthful CDG sub-label's bespoke Vans are basically a logo away from being plain sneakers, yet they're a perennial fan-favorite.

We Recommend
  • Want Nike's New Beautiful Forces? That'll Be $365
    • Sneakers
  • Remember CPFM's Forces? They're Back...& Better
    • Style
  • EXCLUSIVE: Matthew M. Williams on Why His Nike AF1s Aren’t as Simple as They Look
    • Sneakers
  • fragment's Next Nike Sneaker Is...Just a Regular AF1
    • Sneakers
  • Calling All Lover Boys: Drake's NOCTA x Nike AF1 Is Returning
    • Sneakers
What To Read Next
  • New Balance's 2024 Line-Up Is Hella Stacked!
    • Sneakers
  • Why Are Famous People Obsessed With Cowboycore?
    • Style
  • For Summer, Clarks Is Returning to Its Rave Days
    • Sneakers
  • The Clarks Wallabee Is Getting Wavy
    • Sneakers
    • sponsored
  • 114 Index Is Pioneering a Sling Bag Renaissance
    • Style
  • LOEWE's JW Anderson Made 'Challengers' 2024's Best-Dressed Movie
    • Style
*If you submitted your e-mail address and placed an order, we may use your e-mail address to inform you regularly about similar products without prior explicit consent. You can object to the use of your e-mail address for this purpose at any time without incurring any costs other than the transmission costs according to the basic tariffs. Each newsletter contains an unsubscribe link. Alternatively, you can object to receiving the newsletter at any time by sending an e-mail to info@highsnobiety.com

Web Accessibility Statement

Titel Media GmbH (Highsnobiety), is committed to facilitating and improving the accessibility and usability of its Website, www.highsnobiety.com. Titel Media GmbH strives to ensure that its Website services and content are accessible to persons with disabilities including users of screen reader technology. To accomplish this, Titel Media GmbH tests, remediates and maintains the Website in-line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which also bring the Website into conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that our efforts to maintain accessibility and usability are ongoing. While we strive to make the Website as accessible as possible some issues can be encountered by different assistive technology as the range of assistive technology is wide and varied.

Contact Us

If, at any time, you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any particular webpage on this Website, please contact us at accessibility@highsnobiety.com, +49 (0)30 235 908 500. If you do encounter an accessibility issue, please be sure to specify the web page and nature of the issue in your email and/or phone call, and we will make all reasonable efforts to make that page or the information contained therein accessible for you.