Over the past two weeks, sneakerheads and Virgil Abloh fans have placed their bids to get their hands on the Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 sneakers — the exclusive collaboration created prior to the Off-White designer’s passing in November 2021.
AfroTech has shared reports on the custom shoes from when they were initially in the process to be put up on Sotheby’s website, which was Jan 26.
On Feb. 8, the auction closed and sale prices are now being revealed, Hypebeast reports.
The Sneakers Sale
The size US 5 pair of the Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 sneaker reached the price of $352,800 USD — making it the most expensive pair to have sold — according to the outlet. Size 5 was among one of the rarest sizes that only had one pair available. The lucky shoe collector now has one out of the 200 prized possessions of the exclusive colorway sneakers and a Louis Vuitton pilot case.
The sale is marked as “more than 23.5 times higher than the original estimate for each release, and exactly twice the price of the second most expensive (size US 5.5 and a hammer price of $176,400 USD).”
As previously reported by AfroTech, a bid of $90,000 — with the starting bid at $2,000 — for a men’s size 11 in Lot 178 came in with about a week left of the auction.
The Proceeds
The $352,800 sale along with others are being donated to Abloh’s “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund — his partnership with the Fashion Scholarship Fund to support young Black fashion designers.
“Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund
The fund has also recently partnered with Afterpay, the “pay later” service, to support in its mission to “foster equity for rising Black fashion students,” according to a press release.
“We are so pleased that Afterpay is supporting the Fashion Scholarship Fund’s ongoing commitment to provide scholarships, mentorships and career opportunities for Black students entering the fashion industry. Initiatives of this kind not only support Black entrepreneurial talent and businesses, but also help to pave the way for the next generation,” said Peter Arnold, Executive Director, Fashion Scholarship Fund.
