The latest stop on Nigo's Air Force 1 World Tour brings in a new name, and it is one of the biggest in music. The Nigo x j-hope x Nike Air Force 1 '01 pairs the Tokyo designer with the BTS rapper and dancer in a glossy "Burnt Sunrise" colourway. It launched at Human Made on 17 October 2026, reached Nike on 22 October, and is now in stock with us.
Nigo needs little introduction for anyone who follows streetwear. He founded A Bathing Ape in 1993, then Human Made in 2010 under the motto "the future is in the past". In the early 1990s, he and Jun Takahashi wrote the LO2 magazine column that led to their Nowhere boutique in Tokyo.
His work with Nike has grown into a full programme. After a run of Air Force 3 collaborations, he launched the Air Force 1 World Tour in May 2026 at London's Design Museum, alongside his exhibition "NIGO: From Japan With Love". Every stop uses the 2001 shape of the Air Force 1, with a narrower toe box and a more athletic fit, and each one draws on his friends and his own history.
That is where j-hope comes in. Born Jung Ho-seok in Gwangju in 1994, he grew up in the city's street dance scene, training for six years and dancing with the underground crew Neuron. He joined BTS in 2013 and became the member who brought the dance energy to the stage, as well as one of its rappers.
His solo career has shown how far that energy travels. The Hope World mixtape came out in 2018 and the album Jack in the Box in 2022. That summer, he became the first South Korean artist to headline a main stage at a major US festival, closing Lollapalooza in Chicago. In 2024 he released Hope on the Street Vol. 1, and after finishing his military service he took his first solo tour across Asia and North America in 2025.
Fashion has followed the same path. Louis Vuitton named him a House Ambassador in 2023, and his bright, playful style, now nicknamed "Hobicore", has made him one of the most closely followed dressers in pop. He has also worn Human Made for years, which led to Human Hope, a ten-piece capsule with Nigo released in November 2025. Nigo calls him "one of the few people who can become a true ambassador for culture".
The shoe mixes both of their worlds. Glossy Burnt Sunrise and Metallic Gold leather recalls the shiny finishes Nigo made famous in the 1990s, set against chocolate and darker brown panels. Chlorine Blue on the tongue tag and pink AIR lettering on the midsole bring the colour j-hope is known for, all on a red outsole.
The details carry the friendship. j-hope's signature squirrel appears on the heel and the sockliner, while "J-Hope Air" and "Nigo Air" logos replace the usual branding. Multi-coloured rope laces finish the look, and the pair comes in a vintage-style box inside a translucent co-branded case. j-hope has praised the enamel-like leather and the unusual laces in particular.
It wears best with simple pieces like straight raw denim and a neutral hoodie, so the colour leads. The Nigo x j-hope x Nike Air Force 1 '01 is available now on noirfonce.eu at €149.99, in sizes 36 to 46. For the full story of Nigo's work with Nike, read our post on the partnership that rewrites streetwear heritage.
