Quai54 Does It For The Culture.
When July comes around, we all know what season it is. It’s QUAI 54 season! For the past 15 years, the Jordan Brand has celebrated the annual Parisian streetball tournament. 2006 is when it all started, since then it’s all history. After that first collab 10 years ago, the Jordan Brand has blessed us with a dope Air Jordan capsule collection every single year. It only makes sense 10 years after the first drop: the Jordan Brand brings back the same silhouette, the Air Jordan 5s.
A decade ago, the Air Jordan 5 Retro Quai 54 White 2011 had a premium tumbled white leather upper, the shoe was accented by hits of radiant green on the lace tabs, the Jumpman logo, and the Quai54 embroidery on the heel. In all fairness, this year the Air Jordan 5s should have brought the same heat when the first one dropped. And let me tell you guys, Jordan Brand did not disappoint. The Jordan Brand opted in for a clean white leather-built housing the upper, highlighted with geometric prints, inspired, and keeping the liner from the previous year by traditional African design and Parisian Haute couture elements, on the laces, insole, and liner.
The “Quai 54” collection includes the new colorways of the Air Jordan 5, the Air Jordan 1 Low, and the Air Jordan 35. In addition to the footwear, the collection also includes matching hoodies, T-shirts, jackets, and shorts.
“This year, we created a Quai 54 graphic motif inspired by traditional West African fabric patterns,” says Thibaut de Longeville, co-founder of Quai 54.
“We wanted to modernize the look, add some Parisian flair, and ultimately match the energy of the event and its incredible community.”
We know that the FnF 5s will also drop. Images of the sneaker in the hands of the founder Hammadoun Sidibe are already circling the net. As Friends & Family joints go, these will not hit retail, you need to be in the QUAI family. Since our founder, Duke Tshomba, is part of the family, we are sure to see the FnF 5s in person this year.
The Quai 54 collection arrives at the Paris House of Innovation on July 8th, at Nike.com on July 10th; make sure to cop yours.
Diego Aguiar: @di.r.a
