Air Afrique x Nike Air Max RK61 Sneaker Loafer Release Date HQ6416-001

It’s no secret that Nike, Inc. is firmly aboard the sneaker loafer wave. The company dipped its toes into the trend first with the Air Max Phenomena, a model which was built off of the base of the Air Max SNDR. Then the sportswear manufacturer’s Jordan Brand wing got in on the action with its women’s Air Jordan Mule. Now, Nike is bringing the hybrid concept to its collaborations through a new joint project with Parisian art collective Air Afrique.

The Air Afrique x Nike Air Max RK61 is the Beaverton, Ore.-based company’s latest entry into the sneaker hybrid category. More of a sneaker-dress shoe combination than the sneaker loafer looks that have been dominating the trend cycle, the Air Max RK61 is a first-of-its-kind model that will debut with the Air Afrique collaboration.

The shoe uses Nike’s visible Air bubble cushioning in the heel, which is colored in Stadium Green to stand out on the collaboration’s tonal Beige and Black colorways. And what appears to be a sleek, minimally branded piece of footwear is loaded with detailing. The aviation themes of Air Afrique, which is named after the defunct Pan-African airline, are emphasized through Morse code on the outsole and a jacquard insole patterned after the seats on Air Afrique aircrafts.

Instead of traditional shoelaces, the Air Afrique x Nike Air Max RK61 features an upper which is shrouded with a zipper closure affixed with metallic hardware. The shoes come in custom plaid packaging and in dust bags which add to the elevated feel.

Priced at $210 each, the Air Afrique x Nike Air Max RK61 will be launched on Thursday at 10 a.m. from Nike’s Snkrs platform in Black (HQ6416-001) and Beige (HQ6416-100) colorways. It’s worth noting that Nike says the shoe runs approximately a half-size larger than usual and advises ordering a half-size smaller than typical shoe sizing.