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In the mid- to late ‘90s, something was brewing on European shores that would lay the foundations for a phenomenon nobody 

was prepared for. Just a few years later, the early noughties saw a boom in regional exclusive Air Force 1s which put Europe firmly on the map and garnered it international attention - specifically from the US, Japan and Korea.

Known as the ‘Un-Taiwan’, this UK Exclusive is considered one of the best AF1s to come from a high street retailer. The unique blue-fade Swoosh and iced outsole were reminiscent of a red-Swooshed version released in Taiwan the year before.

France created its own buzz with arguably the most desirable European pair of all. The black-white-gum combo is as close to perfection as you can get with this shoe. Those two other colourways are just as rare.

2006’s ‘Barcode pack’ Air Force 1 was limited to just 4008 pairs. This suede and leather France exclusive boasts a classy colour combo, and a unique barcode and number ensures every pair is individual.

In theory, this 2002 Air Force 1 shouldn’t have worked, but those colours actually complement each other perfectly. This is one of the most celebrated Air Force 1s to come out of Europe, and it’s still considered a grail by many, decades after it first landed.

One of the earliest Euro Air Force 1 styles is the ‘Embroidered Swoosh’. Several colourways dropped between ’98 and 2001, with the stitched motifs remaining a constant feature. The embroidered Swoosh was a clear sign that Europe had entered the chat.

The best of the myriad ‘NYC’ Air Force 1s is possibly 2003’s ‘Gold Dust’ colourway. This Europe-wide exclusive opened the floodgates for the wave of Air Force 1 styles being sought after by overseas sneakerheads.

This Air Force 1 made a huge impact with the sneaker community as the brown and skyline combination was unlike anything seen on the shoe before. Its release caused mayhem among Air Force 1 fans worldwide, as everyone wanted to get their hands on a pair.

Inside The Vault

Air Force 1 40th Anniversary