NIKE & AIR AFRIQUE TAKE FLIGHT WITH THE AIR MAX RK61

Nike’s latest collab with Air Afrique, the Paris-based creative collective, introduces the Air Max RK61, a bold hybrid silhouette that bridges dress shoe elegance and sneaker performance. Rather than opting for a straightforward athletic design, the RK61 draws heavily from heritage, aviation motifs, and diasporic identity, positioning the shoe as a narrative piece as much as footwear.

The design cues are rich in symbolism. The name RK61 references Air Afrique’s original flight code (“RK”) and the airline’s founding year, 1961. Its upper leans toward moccasin and dress shoe aesthetics, finished in premium leather panels with a zippered shroud covering the laces, a modern, streamlined twist that nods to technical sneakers. Underfoot, the silhouette surprises: an Air unit shaped to evoke jet engines, a sole with morse code spelling “Air Afrique,” and subtle color accents (like green Air bubbles) that recall the airline’s visual identity.

The storytelling behind the drop leans just as heavy as the design. Air Afrique, revived as a collective, views “Air” as  a symbol of connection, elevation, and diaspora. Nike and the collective reflect on how the original airline once connected West Africa to the world; now, the RK61 aims to carry that legacy forward in cultural form. In its campaign, prominent cross-generational African diaspora figures, like Didier Drogba and Malian artist Oumou Sangaré, anchor the narrative in lived experience and inspiring presence.

Available globally from October 9, 2025 via Nike SNKRS and select retailers, the RK61 arrives in two colorways: Coconut Milk (a clean off-white variant) and Black. It’s priced at USD 210, a premium figure befitting what is both a design statement and cultural artifact.