Nike continues its partnership with Japanese designer NIGO through the release of the Air Force 3 Low x NIGO Phantom and Night Stadium. Scheduled for November 20 at $170 USD, this collaboration revisits one of the most distinct silhouettes from Nike’s late-’80s basketball archive, now interpreted through the Japanese art of repair known as kintsugi.
Kintsugi, a centuries-old technique that restores cracked pottery with lacquer mixed with gold or silver, serves as the foundation of NIGO’s design approach. Rather than concealing damage, the method celebrates imperfection as part of the object’s story. NIGO applies that same principle to footwear, constructing a sneaker that visually reflects the tension between breakage and restoration.
The Air Force 3 Low retains its robust late-1980s frame, but NIGO transforms its surface through a series of detailed material choices. The textured leather upper takes cues from the tactile feel of ceramic pottery. A gold-toned split debossed across the shoe symbolizes the repaired fracture, bringing the concept of kintsugi directly into the sneaker’s structure. The split-colored midsole and asymmetrical color blocking continue that motif, creating a deliberate dissonance that links each side of the shoe.
The palette combines the off-white “Phantom” with a deep grey “Night Stadium,” accented by metallic gold along the seams and mid-foot. This contrast gives visual weight to the idea of repaired fracture while preserving the balance and symmetry of the silhouette. Subtle branding marks the tongue and heel, keeping attention on the materials and finishes that define the collaboration.
NIGO’s partnership with Nike continues his ongoing dialogue between Japanese craft and contemporary design. Since establishing A Bathing Ape in 1993 and later Human Made, the designer has consistently merged cultural reference with accessible design language. His work with Nike builds on that history, connecting craftsmanship to sneaker culture through thoughtful material execution.
The sneaker arrives in men’s sizing, constructed with full-grain leather and a perforated toe box for breathability. Its layered build and padded collar retain the comfort of the original basketball silhouette, while its finish gives it the quality of a crafted object. Every visible element, from the gold accents to the split-tone sole, supports the central idea of repair as beauty.
The Air Force 3 Low x NIGO Phantom and Night Stadium launches November 20 via Nike SNKRS and select global partners for $170 USD.
Model: Air Force 3 Low x Nigo Phantom and Night Stadium
Colorway: Phantom/Bamboo/Night Stadium
SKU: HQ0261-001
Price: 170.00 USD
Release Date: November 20
Available at: Nike and select retailers
