Following leaks dating back to August this year, the Stüssy x Nike Air Flight ‘89 collection is now confirmed to be releasing in three colourways that spruce up the near 35-year old basketball silhouette with reptilian detailing.
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As its name suggests, the Nike Air Flight ‘89 released all the way back in 1989 when the brand was experiencing a boom across the basketball world and while Michael Jordan and his team wore his eponymous range of kicks, the Air Flight was a viable alternative for other players in the NBA and was also a hit amongst fans for its resemblance to the Air Jordan IV and added utilitarian twist thanks to the extra padding and discernible Nike branding.
Stüssy’s take on the design boasts snake-print detailing and interlinked “S” branding that acts as the hallmark of the anniversary edition pair, which will release in pack format later this month.
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Two of the three colourways feature white leather bases with differences on the swoosh and heel piping that comes in a choice of ‘habanero’ red or khaki green ‘pecan’. The final iteration flourishes a mostly black palette with tonal print, white branding and midsole paint.
In keeping with the retro basketball aesthetic, Nike and Stüssy have also conspired on a concise apparel capsule that injects mesh tops and waterproof shorts with dual branding. A set of reversible flight jackets expand on the logo-front by featuring various archival motifs from both parties.
Finally, we are treated to a refreshment of the ever-popular, perfectly oversized Nike x Stüssy sweats. This time, the powers that be have chosen a zip-up style of hooded sweatshirt to match colour-coded sweatpants... even Nike’s 3-pack of cushioned crew socks get the Stüssy treatment.
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The full Nike x Stüssy Air Flight ‘89 collection will be available via Nike SNKRS on December 13th. The shoes are priced at $160, with apparel ranging from $75 - $200 USD.
