Nike Air Force 1 Fontanka

University Blue features heavily across the entirety of this Air Force 1 Fontanka, creating a unified design. Along its underside, the concentric circles of the rubber outsole don’t quite match up down the middle, where a clear line can be seen. Both sides have been moved a tiny amount to create this intriguing effect, while the sturdy lugs on one short section of the lateral edge have been pushed closer together to fit in with the indented lines cut into the side of the midsole above. This comes in the same color as the rest, but offers some contrast through its slab of React foam, which is completely white. It sticks out on either side of the heel, demonstrating that there is added cushioning underneath this whole section.

Across the upper, quirky lines of stitching deviate from their normal routes along the edges of the overlays, straying into the toe box, whose perforations are randomly ordered, as well as the midfoot and eyestay. This latter feature is formed of three layers, the lower one a standard eyestay, the middle part a small suede addition and the top a wavy-edged leather patch whose tip extends above the uppermost eyelets to float over the collar. Further suede effects appear on the swooshes, heel panel and secondary tongue, which contains a patch with black Nike branding. The same text is printed on the University Blue insole, while this charming sneaker is topped off with three embroidered swooshes in the primary tongue, one in red, another in green and the largest of the trio in a deep shade of blue.