The Sotheby’s auction of the Louis Vuitton x Nike “Air Force 1” trainer designed by Virgil Abloh ended with a record sale of $25.3 million.
The auction ran from January 26 to February 8 and attracted more than 10,000 bids, two-thirds of which came from trainer enthusiasts under the age of 40. Unsurprisingly, the Louis Vuitton x Nike auction became the most expensive charity sale at Sotheby’s in almost a decade and broke the record for the most bids on the opening day of any online sale.
Two hundred pairs of trainers in different sizes were auctioned along with a bright orange pilot case. With an estimate of $15,000 per pair, bids started at just $2,000, with each pair raising around $100,000 and the highest bid at $352,000.
The trainers were created for Louis Vuitton’s spring/summer 2022 men’s collection to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Nike Air Force 1. Virgil Abloh considered the silhouette an emblem of his community and streetwear culture. The Louis Vuitton x Nike ‘Air Force 1’ is designed in the brown and cream Louis Vuitton colour scheme with a monogram and denim motif. Virgil Abloh has added his own stamp with branding and inverted commas like Off-White. The trainers will retail in other colours in the future, although a release date has not yet been announced.
Approximately $20 million in profits will be donated to the Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” scholarship fund.
The Virgil Abloh™ Post-Modern Scholarship Fund assists gifted black, African American and African American students with scholarships and financial support.
