Air Afrique x Nike
Celebrating The Union
There are collaborations—and then there are cultural moments. The Air Afrique x Nike collab is unapologetically the latter.
To celebrate the union of heritage and innovation, Air Afrique kicked off its Paris pop-up on October 3rd, followed by an NYC stop on October 11th, turning both cities into vibrant runways of identity and storytelling.
LET’S STEP INSIDE →
Lauryn Hill attends New York City pop-up on October 11th, 2025
In 2021, the four members of the collective, Lamine Diaoune, Djiby Kebe, Jeremy Konko, and Ahmadou-Bamba brought Air Afrique back to life. This rebirth proved that Air Afrique isn’t just a brand; it’s a collective of young Parisians from the African diaspora reimagining what it means to archive our stories through art, design, and conversation.
Think of it as a boarding pass to a future where creativity and culture share the same flight path.
Their first-ever collaboration with Nike is exactly that: A nod to traveling in style while staying grounded in purpose. The star of the drop, the Air Max RK61, merges the past with the present: “RK” for Air Afrique’s airline code and “61” for the year it first took flight.
Every detail feels intentional, almost poetic. The outsole edges are lined with Morse code, a subtle tribute to early aviation communication. Inside, a jacquard sockliner mirrors the pattern once found on the airline’s seats.
The Stadium Green Air bubble peeks through with confidence, and the metallic zipper pull adds just enough shine to remind you that luxury doesn’t always need to shout. It can whisper and still be heard from the next gate.
The Nike x Air Afrique Air Max RK61 will be available globally starting October 9th, across SNKRS and select retail partners.
“This project is meant to bring out the rich history of Air Afrique, highlighting what the airline represented as an achievement for the continent and the people of those West African nations, domestic and abroad,” says Jupiter Desphy, the silhouette's lead designer.
“The opportunity to travel should be available to everyone, and the ability to meet new people, see distant relatives and gain exposure to different cultures forms our worldview in a meaningful way. As a team, we wanted to show respect to an era of movement many people may not be familiar with, in the form of a shoe that articulates these ideas and emotions.”
(Source: Nike Newsroom)
When Culture Travels
The Spaces
At its core, this collab isn’t just about sneakers. It’s about how culture travels and how heritage can board a flight, land in new cities, and still carry home in its design.
Because this? This is what happens when style and story take off together:
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Until next time,
