This Lunar New Year was so popular it got not one but two releases in 2002. Featuring a galloping horse on the insole and the character for “horse” on the tongue and heel tab, this red and white release remains one of the more coveted Chinese New Year AF1s to date. It’s no wonder the horse in the Chinese Zodiac is associated with popularity and intelligence, because these are a no-brainer.
Released in 2003, this Zodiac AF1 is characterized by an all-white leather upper with limited orange accents on the tongue and insole. The “Goat” AF1 also features a light icy outsole, which ultimately gives this release a bit of flair while still staying true to the calm dependability associated with the goat.
In the Chinese Zodiac, the monkey is characterized as both dignified and self-assured – two words that aptly describe this 2004 Chinese New Year release from Nike. The shoe’s Swoosh provides a bit of flair as it fades from dark to light brown, and the buttery white leather upper is the perfect foundation for the sneaker’s subtle nods toward the small yet energetic jungle dweller.
Similar to the “Year of the Goat” release from 2003, the 2005 “Year of the Rooster” AF1 makes use of a subdued color palette, an opaque outsole and premium materials for maximum style and versatility. Inspired by an animal seen as both accurate and precise, this Chinese Zodiac release ideally embodies the personality of the rooster, even if it might not immediately garner attention.
Loud and made up of a variety of materials and patterns, the AF1 “Year of the Dog” is definitely one of Nike’s most unforgettable odes to the Chinese Zodiac. It seems to be no coincidence that this 2005 sneaker, associated with an animal revered for its loyalty and attractiveness, has proven one of the most continually coveted in the Chinese New Year bunch, especially since it broke away from the collection’s subdued track record.
With its translucent sole and chenille contrasting Swooshes, the “Year of the Rabbit” AF1 was one of the most highly sought after releases of 2011. The subtle tone of the suede upper ideally foregrounds the shoe’s crimson and varsity royal accents, while also serving as the perfect backdrop for the sneaker’s rabbit-referencing emblems.
Last but not least, the YOTD AF1 is the latest in the Zodiac-inspired series and a return to the more subdued beginnings of the collection. Featuring a colorful dragonhead on the tongue, an embossed pattern on the black upper and a scaled Swoosh, this pair is another winner in the line of Chinese New Year AF1 drops.
Posts
