Long gone are the days of $90 AF1s and $100 Nike Dunk Lows as inflation continues to hit the wallets of consumers and company’s across the world. In the last 12 months, price increases have hit the aforementioned mainstay Nike silhouettes as well as Jordan Brand retro releases with the AJ 1 High now retailing for $180 and upwards depending on the colorway. With this in mind, it was odd to see the collaborative Supreme x Nike Air Force 1 actually retailing for the same exact price as the GR version directly from The Swoosh, though now it seems inflation has hit this constantly restocked pair.
First released in Black and White in March of 2020, the Supreme AF1 is as lowkey as a Supreme x Nike collab can be with the NYC-based streetwear label only adding their red logo to the heel and insole. At the time, it retailed for $96 which was only $6 more than your standard AF1 you’d find on nike.com. Restocks would go down almost monthly throughout the next two years with the price increasing another $4 to reach the same level as a GR AF1 from Nike. Fast forward to September of 2022 and yet another restock would go down, though this time the inflation that has hit every product from groceries to gas has once again made its way to the Supreme x Nike AF1. Now, before taxes and shipping, the price is set at $118, making the pair cost upwards of $140 in certain regions of the US once you tack on these additional fees. Unlike the two previously mentioned colorways, the Wheat pair that was introduced in 2021 has continued to retail for $150, likely due to its all-suede construction.
Unfortunately for everyone, the increase in retail prices has hit much quicker than it did in the past and likely will continue over the course of the next few years. Looking at the situation from a glass half full perspective, maybe these increases will force resellers to stay away from certain drops, or if you’re more pessimistic, can be seen as a way for brands to continue to release the same quality product for a cheaper price.
Keep it locked to our Twitter and the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest happenings in sneakers, streetwear, and more. For a full breakdown on the Nike Air Force 1 as a whole, its history, and more, check out our Nike Air Force 1 Buyers Guide!
Image via Supreme
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
