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.
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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.
