Nike Air Force 1 LXX x Serena Williams Design Crew

This one-of-a-kind pair of Nike Air Force 1 LXX x Serena Williams Design Crew sneakers was designed by the great tennis player herself and the Serena Williams Design Crew (SWDC), a diverse team of apprentice designers put together in collaboration with Nike. The Summit White outsole comes with the classic ring-shaped grip patterns, which create excellent traction, while the midsole features Nike’s tried and tested Air-cushioned midsole for maximum comfort.

The upper is made of premium tumbled leather which appears entirely in Summit White, giving it a refined, elegant look. In place of the usual laces, the leather overlay which covers the vamp wraps up over the top of the foot, the two sides meeting in the middle, where they are held together by a gold zip embossed with Nike branding. Within this protective covering is another layer that envelops the foot inside the shoe, providing the wearer with a snug, sock-like fit. When the zip is undone, a series of golden numbers are revealed underneath. These represent the Grand Slam victories in the champion tennis player’s career. On the right foot, the numbers include “99”, the year of her first Grand Slam victory at the US Open, and “02”, the year of her next Grand Slam title, when she won the US, the French and Wimbledon all in the same year. In fact, every year in which she won at least one of these most prized tournaments is represented, with eight years on the right foot and six on the left encompassing all 23 final victories.

Further details enhance the look of this special sneaker, with a thick double swoosh outline embroidered along each flank and additional perforations at the top of the toe box alongside fine stitching in its centre. Elsewhere, subtle touches hint at the superstar designer of the pair, from her signature sewn in gold thread into the heel panel to the dynamic triangular Nike Air graphic on the insole. This angular design resembles the patterns on some of the other clothes in her Nike collection, for example, the tennis trousers and leggings. The tongue patch holds further custom accents, such as a tiny version of Serena’s signature next to a Nike swoosh, both in gold, above the words “A collection created to inspire change and move the world”. Protruding from the top of the tongue is an extra little tag that displays the SWDC logo, “10 4 01”, which stands for the idea of ten designers working together for the team, but also for each other as individuals. It is a celebration of the inclusivity and diversity of the group, as well as the strong bonds of teamwork between them, that rounds off this remarkable design with a personal touch.