In the year 2020, the American giant Nike conducted for the first time a large number of exclusive sneaker launches in Japan outside the island nation. Among these CO.JP releases are the famous 2001 pair, the Air Jordan 1 High « Metallic Silver » (article available HERE). The Swoosh brand continues to build on its success with the re-release of the Nike Air Force 1 CO.JP « I Believe » from 2002.
The initially white shoe with a crosshatched pattern was designed in 2002 to commemorate the FIFA World Cup. Its name « I Believe » comes from the fans’ cheering for their national team and the traditional Japanese doll « Daruma » was placed on the heel to bring luck and victory.
For this re-edition, it seems that Nike brand is chosen to modernize this pair by adorning it with a removable color base. The first white layer on the upper can be removed to reveal a red, black and gold pattern corresponding to the Daruma doll. The only elements to remain completely white in both versions are the grained leather side Swoosh and the heel tab. When the pair is still covered with its white layer, we find the name « I Believe » and the red Daruma doll, with her left eye filled, on the side heel. These inscriptions disappear in favor of a word in Japanese gold writing on the colored patterned version. Another change compared to the 2002 model, the insole appears in white instead of red, but keeps the Daruma print for the left foot and the Nike Air I Believe branding for the right foot. This same branding appears in white on the red tongue label. A small red Swoosh embroidered on the front of the laceguard and white laces complete the look. The whole is based on a white midsole combined with a modernised clear translucent neutral outsole (the 2002 edition had a translucent gum sole).
The new Nike Air Force 1 CO.JP « I Believe » is expected to be released in the coming months, no specific date has been communicated yet… Stay tuned !
