The streets of Harlem, New York raised a crew of talented friends that later developed into a worldwide known brand called the A$AP Mob. Starting in the game, many were familiar with the A$AP Mob, but the first name that came to mind was A$AP Rocky, and not the other members who help make the team whole. But for the past few years there’s been a drastic change. Each member of the crew has ventured out of their shells to make a name for themselves outside of the music, participating in projects they love, giving back to the community, and even collaborating with some of the most iconic giants in the fashion industry.
The individuals in the crew each embody their own, unique style and hustle which has so much to do with the endless culture, inspiration, and influences within Harlem. Their personal creative styles led A$AP Bari to create his very own streetwear line, Vlone, and the reaction its been receiving from fans has been nuts. Bari has managed to add exposure to the brand putting together several pop-up shops, art exhibitions, and spontaneous teasers of upcoming apparel and accessories to be available in limited quantities. Lil Uzi Vert took over their lookbook, modeling Vlone’s collab with Virgil Abloh’s Off- White, and back in February, Bari released his very limited collaboration with multi-billion dollar company, Nike, near his old stomping grounds in Harlem where it all began.
The insane hype from Bari’s Vlone x Nike pop-up, with lines forming outside the shop with fans eager to get a hold of pieces from the collaboration has led to another limited release capsule sneaker collection with Nike. This time around the AF1 will release in an array of colors, from yellow to blue, green, and red.
👀👀👀 VLONE x Nike Air Force 1 Highs pic.twitter.com/CRFWFbFl4I
— Complex Style (@ComplexStyle) June 23, 2017
If you’re from Harlem or know anyone from Harlem, then you know how much the AF1 silhouette means to them. Here’s what Bari told HypeBeast about his collab with Nike.
“Coming from Harlem, an Air Force 1 was our dress code,” he said. “It was that summertime fresh shoe, fresh Easter outfit. It was like if you ain’t got no dress shoes to go to church, you’re wearing your fresh Air Force 1s. It’s a Harlem dress code, it’s a Harlem lifestyle. I haven’t worked hard enough. Right now this is just giving back. Just giving something exciting to Harlem, something that the kids can be inspired by, something so simple as me walking down the block after this. At the end of the day I’m that regular kid from Harlem and I ain’t never changed. I’m just fortunate enough to do collaborations with people like Nike, etc. — them giving me the opportunity, a kid from the hood, to share his dream by doing a collab with AF1.”
No word yet on the latest collections release date, but hopefully fans will get a chance to cop a pair sometime within the near future.
