Sneaker: Nike Air Force 1

Air Force 1, released in 1982, was the first basketball shoe to include Nike’s (NKE) Air technology, which embeds airbag cushions in the soles of the shoes. But the sneaker’s success came largely off the court, as a fashion accessory embraced first by the hip-hop community and now by just about everybody.

Nike did not anticipate this level of popularity. The company largely stopped making AF1 after one year and didn’t resume full-scale production until almost two decades later, when it was brought back by popular demand. Now it’s a staple product; the all-white, low-cut version has been the best-selling sneaker in the U.S. since 2007; overall the brand sold 11 million pairs in 2009 for more than $1 billion, according to researcher Sports One Source. It has also become a blank slate for designers to experiment with different themes, materials, and color combinations. About 1,700 versions have been produced, using everything from 18-carat gold to chenille, to straw, to crocodile skin. Nike, in Beaverton, Ore., touted the shoe’s hip-hop credibility for AFI’s 25th anniversary in 2007, commissioning a song featuring Kanye West. It keeps up a rigorous series of limited editions dedicated to such things as Black History Month and the five boroughs of New York (the latter released just last month). Oh, and some people still wear them to play basketball. —Matt Townsend

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Shoes

Bandana Nike Air Force Ones

Duo Bandana Nike AF1s

Multi Bandana Nike AF1s

Whole Bandana Nike AF1s

Bandana Nike Cortez

Bandana Converse All Stars

Bandana Vans

Bandana Timberlands

Painted Icons Nike AF1s

Painted Bandana Nike AF1s

Painted Music Nike AF1s

Painted Logo Nike AF1s

Painted Food Nike AF1s

Painted Misc Nike AF1s

Painted Vans

Alligator Converse All Stars

Alligator Nike Cortez

Alligator Nike AF1s

Crystal Converse All Stars

Crystal Havaianas Sandals

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