Off-White
Off-White x Nike is the partnership between Nike and designer Virgil Abloh’s label, and one of the most talked-about sneaker collabs of the past decade. Abloh took classic models apart and put them back together, with text in quotation marks and a plastic zip tie as his signature. That turned familiar Air Jordan and Air Max silhouettes into design pieces.
The history of Off-White x Nike
Virgil Abloh, who trained as an architect, founded Off-White in Milan in 2012. His label blended streetwear with luxury fashion, and in 2018 he also became artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton.
In 2017 came ‘The Ten’: ten Nike and Converse models that Abloh redesigned, including the Air Jordan 1, the Air Max 90 and the Blazer. New Jordan models followed, and in 2021 ‘The 50’, a series of fifty Dunk Low versions that each carried their own lot number. Abloh passed away in November 2021; his Nike designs have remained treasured by collectors ever since.
How to recognise an Off-White sneaker
Abloh showed the making process instead of hiding it. Typical features are words in Helvetica between quotation marks, such as ‘AIR’ on the sole or ‘SHOELACES’ on the laces, and the zip tie on the lacing, usually in orange. You will often also see exposed stitching, bare foam on the tongue and a Swoosh that looks as if it was stitched on loosely.
Popular Off-White releases
These Off-White x Nike pairs are currently the most viewed on WOOVIN:
- Air Jordan 4 Off-White ‘Sail’ (W): cream with black accents and ‘AIR’ above the visible Air unit.
- Air Max 90 Off-White ‘Desert Ore’: sandy tones with orange accents.
- Air Max 90 Off-White ‘Black’: black, with familiar Off-White details such as the zip tie.
- Blazer Low Off-White ‘Black Electro Green’: a low Blazer in black with bright green.
- Air Jordan 5 Off-White ‘Sail’: sail with black and red accents.
Off-White Jordan 4 or Air Max 90?
The Jordan 4 is a basketball shoe with a sturdy, compact build and plenty of padding around the ankle. The Air Max 90 comes from running, is lighter and feels more flexible. If you want a statement piece for your collection, the Jordan 4 stands out more; for everyday wear the Air Max 90 is often the more practical choice.
How do Off-White sneakers fit?
The fit always follows the base model. The Air Jordan 4 fits true to size in length but is snug around the forefoot; with wide feet, take half a size up. The Air Jordan 5, the Air Max 90 and the Blazer generally fit true to size, although the Blazer’s last is on the narrow side. Pairs marked (W) follow Nike’s women’s size chart.
Buy Off-White x Nike at WOOVIN
On WOOVIN you will find Off-White sneakers from Air Jordan, Air Max and Blazer, including women’s models such as the Jordan 4 ‘Sail’. Light Sail versions show dirt more quickly, while black pairs such as the Air Max 90 ‘Black’ are easier to keep clean. Because Off-White is often faked, the stock comes from verified stores that confirm the authenticity of every pair.
