Nike x Air Afrique Air Max RK61
by Adriano Batista
Nike and Air Afrique, a creative collective from Paris, have created a new shoe. It is called the Air Max RK61. It is a dress shoe that mixes heritage and new design, all built around the idea of shared travel.
The shoe puts Air technology into a new form, combining cultural memory with a modern look. Its name comes from the original Air Afrique flight code, RK, and the year the airline started, 1961. It is a tribute to the airline that once connected West African nations and its people living abroad.
Inspired by the classic Air Max SNDR and loafers, the RK61 has a refined upper paired with the comfort of Air Max. The design details nod to aviation: an Air Max unit that looks like a jet engine, Morse code on the sole spelling “Air Afrique,” a zipper pull with the old airline logo, and a jacquard insole that recalls vintage airport seats.
Ahmadou-Bamba Thiam of the Air Afrique collective explains, “The idea of Air is central to our story. The airline soared through the skies to connect cultures and unite people. We also think of ‘Air’ as a symbolic lifting up through culture and humanity. This was our starting point.”
The new Air Afrique collective builds on the airline’s original role as a force for cultural exchange. Its four members have turned its legacy into a platform for Afro-diasporic expression through art, film, and photography. Lead designer Jupiter Desphy says the project aims to “bring to light the rich history of Air Afrique,” honoring an era of movement that shaped worldviews. “The chance to travel, to meet new people and see relatives, should be within everyone’s reach.”
The campaign for the shoe, called Première Classe, features a multi-generational group known for excellence across the diaspora: footballer Didier Drogba, singer Oumou Sangaré, sprinter Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith, and Mme Daba Traoré, a former Air Afrique employee. Their presence shows the wide and lasting influence of these figures. Check it out below:
The Nike x Air Afrique Air Max RK61 will be available on October 9th.
Salomon Introduces the Road Trip Capsule
Who Decides War SS26 Backstage!
Yohei Ohno captured by the lens of Valeria Vargas and styled by Iris Lima, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
This project builds on past apparel collections, reinterpreting the classic Nike Air Force 3 Low through NIGO’s unique perspective.
Designed by Eli Russell Linnetz in Venice Beach, the line is made in California and draws from a deep part of American memory: the surplus store.
A$AP Rocky and PUMA have released their latest and largest collection. The new line finds its inspiration in the Harlem jazz renaissance, mixing that era’s energy with modern streetwear.
The project, titled “Heart To Heart,” is built on a shared belief in creativity, individuality, and emotional well-being.
Bimba y Lola held an event at the Reina Sofía Museum in support of a new exhibition for the artist Maruja Mallo.
For its 65th edition, Lisboa Fashion Week asked a simple, radical question: what if we showed you the foundations instead of just the facade?
Marwan El Anbari and Hiago Paulino photographed by Joey Leo and styled with pieces from Lito Fine Jewelry, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
This woven model is the latest addition to the Tormenta line, joining the original version and a semi-open style from the previous season.
This product represents a new idea of luxury, one built on absolute precision brought to everyday life.
Check out below the collection captured at VETEMENTS’ backstage, captured by Rita Castel-Branco, in exclusive for Fucking Young!
American designer Thom Browne presented his Spring/Summer collection during Paris Fashion Week.
Art lovers, save the date. Art Basel Paris 2025 arrives this October as a reaffirmation of Paris’s position in the global contemporary art world.
For its Fall/Winter 2025 campaign, Willy Chavarria introduces a new chapter called EXACTAMENTE.
Farah introduces The Archive, a 16-piece capsule collection that steps into its own history.
Our photographer Emil Huseynzade went backstage at ModaLisboa to capture the menswear looks from SANGUE NOVO, in exclusive for Fucking Young!
Zach Delf photographed by Sanem Ozman and styled by Talia Voon, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
For its Spring/Summer 2026 collection, Rhude explores the idea of the Renaissance Man.
Trashy Clothing’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection is called “Bikini Diplomacy.” It begins with a feeling of déjà vu.
Sandro Vepkhvadze photographed and styled by Beka Gulva, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
Duran Lantink’s first collection for Jean Paul Gaultier is called “JUNIOR.”
With this collection, Ludovic de Saint Sernin crowns a new aristocracy. In this world, elegance is a form of liberation, sensuality is power, and the ultimate luxury is belonging.
Maison Kitsuné presents its SS26 collection, titled Voyage Vestiaire. This season marks the debut of the house’s new Creative Director, Abigail Smiley-Smith.
Lacoste’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, The Locker Room, shows us the moment when each player steps into their purpose.
Alessandro Michele unveils his Valentino SS26 collection, “Fireflies,” a sartorial manifesto inspired by Pier Paolo Pasolini’s writings on finding light and desire in the dark.
Ann Demeulemeester is known for creating a strong contrast between structure and softness, but for Spring/Summer 2026, it was the softer side that came out.
We talked with HOLD NYC about how Hustlers redefines what it means to dress and to hustle today.
BOSS, in collaboration with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, is offering a new way to experience racing.
For her first-ever trainer collaboration, London-based designer Priya Ahluwalia has partnered with PUMA to reconsider the iconic Suede.
Photographer Angelo Pennetta captured DiMarco in the streets and small shops of the 11th arrondissement.
