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The Nike Air Force 1 ‘Dirty Triple White’ feels like the kinda thing you'd find on Facebook Marketplace during a 1 a.m. scroll. The listing might say: ‘Only worn once. Basically new.’ But the deep creases across the toebox and the scuffs along midsole would suggest otherwise. Except, in this case, Nike’s latest Air Force 1 is genuinely brand new—it's just made to look, well, very used.
The ‘Dirty Triple White’ does exactly what it says on the tin. It's the classic ‘Triple White’ that's been around since the ’80s, but now, the sneaker has been designed to look trashed. Up top, the leather upper has been pre-yellowed. There are dark marks across the front, and some of the stitching on the Swoosh has already come loose. Even the insole and the heel badge are all marked up to make it look like they've been worn a few thousand times.
Down below, the Air midsole gets the same roughed-up treatment. All of this is then finished off with a metal lace dubrae that's been pre-oxidized to make everything look even torched.
Pre-worn kicks are nothing new. From Balenciaga to New Balance, some of the sneakerverse's biggest brands have all dropped ‘em. Puma even did it last month with the Speedcat. But what makes the ‘Dirty Triple White’ different is that, apparently, the more you rock it, the cleaner it gets. The “dirtiness” is actually a coating that has been applied on top of the shoe itself. Over time this will wear off, leaving you with an Air Force 1 that’s meant to look newer, fresher, and cleaner.
And if you really want to speed up the process, the American sportswear company has added a Nike-branded toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste right in the box. But where's the fun in that, lads?
The Nike Air Force 1 ‘Dirty Triple White’ will be available via Nike, the SNKRS app, and select stockists on May 7 for $130. Or, you can just grab the OG ‘Triple White’ now and DIY.
This story originally appeared on British GQ.