The new “AIR” movie with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon has made the Triton Voice take a deeper look into what people wear for shoes at Triton. We decided to look at the following shoes: Air Force 1, Converse Chuck Taylors, Air Jordan 1, Crocs, and Nike Blazers.

    Air Force 1

According to the Sothebys.com article, “The 40 year anniversary of Air Force 1,” by Zoë Vanderweide, The Air Force 1 debuted in 1982, and soon thereafter was contracted to six of the era’s best NBA players, known as the “Original Six.” Nike designer Bruce Kilgore’s first shot at a basketball shoe, the Air Force 1 also made history as the first basketball shoe to bring soft, Nike Air cushioning to the courts. “While originally conceived as a hiking boot-inspired, ankle-strapped high top, the shoe’s popularity exploded with the release of the Air Force 1 Low, which found a fervent fanbase in major cities from Baltimore to D.C. to New York.”

Student Maya Cole says that her Air Force 1’s “go with everything and they are a classic shoe but not the most supportive.”

    Converse Chuck Taylor

According to the website, mrporter.com and its article, “A Brief History Of The Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Sneaker”, by Ms Molly Isabella Smith, The Converse was founded in 1908 by Mr Marquis Mills Converse in Malden, Massachusetts. The company used them to keep the factory workers working all year round. It became a basketball shoe in 1916, which also coincided with the beginning of basketball.

Senior Josh Rodriguez says his Chuck Taylors  are a good lifting shoe due to the flat bottom. It is not a sprinting shoe, but it is comfortable.

          Air Jordan 1

According to the website, Shoepalace.com and its article, “The History of the Air Jordan 1” by Adam C. Better, The Air Jordan 1 was designed by Peter Moore and was released in 1985. The release was made during Michael Jordan’s rookie season in the NBA. The design of the Jordan 1 was a simple basketball shoe. The Jordan 1 lacked the advanced technology that the Jordan Brand would be known for with later installments. Nike was dedicated to giving Michael Jordan his own shoe and brand to grow with. That commitment is clear when you view the shoe’s distinctive logo. Moore designed a wings symbol that was placed on the upper ankle of the shoe.

Senior Bella Rosenau about Air Jordans,  “They are very nice and look cool if you have the right outfit to wear with them.”

Crocs

According to the website referencetobusiness.com and its article, “Crocs, Inc. – Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Crocs, Inc.”, Crocs became extremely popular in the early 2000s with both men and women. The shoes rely on a material called Croslite (A closed cell resin material which is not plastic or rubber). The material is also very lightweight and can be used on boats and in other outdoor activities. Crocs has also found a market with working people who spend a lot of time on their feet and has attracted the attention of celebrities, thereby making them fashionable. The shoe features a removable back strap available in 20 colors.

Student Sam Richard says of Crocs, “I love them! Very comfy and can walk around at the beach and in water.

      Nike Blazers

According to the website, shoepalace.com and its article, “The History of the Nike Blazer”,The Nike Blazer debuted in 1973. It was first used as a basketball sneaker, the first basketball sneaker Nike ever created. It had a leather upper, with a mesh nylon tongue with a rubber sole. The shoe was named after the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. George Gervin who was a superstar basketball player in the 1970s. He quickly adopted the Blazer as a signature shoe. The Blazer is thought of as an incredibly simplistic shoe today, but when it originally released it was one of the most advanced styles on the market. The Blazer has had a presence in our culture for decades now. Presently, the Blazer uses leather and allows the Blazer to work as a casual sneaker, but it still brings a unique look to your outfit. The more than affordable price tag also makes it a big success.

Senior Aaron Holsher says the high top blazers do have some drawbacks: They are really annoying to put on because you can’t slip the shoe on.

The Film “AIR’ stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as an employee and owner for Nike. Their goal is to look for their next athlete to wear their Nike shoe. The 1984 NBA draft had a lot of talent and was a way to see if they can peruse an athlete to sign with Nike. They talk about their budget and how much they want to offer the athletes. They realize that most of the athletes have already made their decisions with a brand. Then one of the employers wants to risk the company and put all the money and hoping to land the athlete as the head of Nike.

Collaborations with high fashion companies are going to take over the shoe world. For example, Off-White and Nike made an Air Force 1 that currently has a price between 1,797 – 13,900 dollars due to size. It seems as if there will never be an end to shoe design.