Sotheby’s Celebrates Nike’s 50th Anniversary starting today (November 29). The online auction includes 103 Nike relics across different eras. The online auction will go on until the 13th of December. Also, the collection will be on display at Sotheby’s York Avenue galleries in New York City starting Nov. 30.
Sotheby’s Celebrates Nike’s Anniversary With 103 Nike Relics From Different Eras
Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman founded Nike in 1972. Nike originated from Blue Ribbon Sports, founded in 1964. They branded it Nike as an honor to the Greek goddess of victory. Their first shoe was the Waffle Racer. Over the last 50 years, the Oregon-based running shoe specialist, became the biggest sportswear brand in the world.
To celebrate the occasion, Sotheby’s has curated “fifty“, a streetwear-focused auction highlighting more than 100 sought-out collaborations, prototypes, and more. Also, the Sotheby’s partnered with former NFL star and one-time Nike collaborator Victor Cruz to present “fifty”.
Cruz’s picks include the Air Jordan 1 Retro High x Off-White “Chicago” from “The Ten” collection with Virgil Abloh. Also, it includes the Nike x Louis Vuitton, Air Force 1 with the pilot case. Then, the Fragment Design x Air Jordan 1 Retro friends-and-family. Also, the Air Jordan 3 Retro sample for Nipsey Hussle’s “Victory Lap” album and the Nike SB Dunk High “What the Doernbecher” sample.
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The brand’s cult following over 50 years propelled their shoes from athletic necessities to in-vogue goods. From their 2016 collaboration with Drake, a pair of solid gold sneakers went for $2.2 million.
“Sneakers are a personal means for expression”, Cruz said in a release for the sale. “Sneakers are culturally relevant pieces of art and timestamps that bring us back to different moments and memories in our lives”, he added.
“The storyline of Virgil Abloh is so special” – Former NFL Star, Victor Cruz
Cruz also spoke about the Louis Vuitton collection. “The storyline of Virgil Abloh—a Black man being a creative director for a brand like Louis Vuitton—is so special”, Cruz remarked. “Anytime I get a chance to celebrate that and put his achievement to the forefront, I’m going to”.
Handmade by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman in the early 1960s, the collection features a mismatched pair with their original white laces, and four long metal spikes on each sole were designed for use on a cinder track. This particular shoe, Stotheby’s said, was produced by Bowerman specifically for Clayton Steinke, who ran cross-country and track for the Oregon Ducks from 1960-1964.
A nylon Nike x Seinfeld backpack from 1989, on the other hand, is only anticipated to bring around $800 to $1,200. Also, the price of an original pair of 1985 Air Jordan wristbands ranged from $300 to $500.
“We wanted to curate an auction that would appeal to both new and seasoned collectors alike, offering a range of price points”, Sotheby’s Brahm Wachter said. Many are listed as “no reserve”.
