AIR FORCE ONE PATINA

Reading time: 4min

This is the story of the meeting between patina and a painter who loves to push the limits.
Anxious to be able to try to create, Artwhos decided in 2014 to look into a new
technical. In fact , and during his extensive research into noble and qualitative craftsmanship in the world of shoes, he became interested in the work of Olga Berlutti, who was artistic director of the eponymous house from 1961 to 2001. Therefore, combining the techniques of coloring and discoloring leather with his art and his love for sneakers, appears like a timely challenge and “ the state of mind to have to start such a collection …”.

At the same time, he met a person who put him on the path with a first
experience : " a former bootmaker who shared his knowledge with me, I wanted to adapt it to sneakers –
the first pair I worked on was not a classic AF1, it was a full leather
flower », a first prototype with which he will not be entirely satisfied. “ It was the start of a
adventure which consists of making mistakes but above all important discoveries, it is
a work that can and will still evolve because it is not fixed, I am experimenting
continually. »

His choice fell on the AIR FORCE 1 from Nike to create a noble, high-end range,
while remaining classic in the world of Streetwear... his desire not being to redo what has already
been done but to innovate. So for Artwhos, pushing the limits translates into marriages
improbable: associated materials, techniques, but also visions that can be had
certain brands and to interweave these universes having a priori no logical relationship. These
unreasonable marriages for some at that time, gave birth to new
models. In this case with the Air force 1 patinated collection the challenge was to be classy for

“ relocating the street look and bringing it to chic places ". When we see
the evolution of style and mentalities about sneakers, this collection fits perfectly with
the year 2021.

The choice of colors, timeless classics of patina, associated with noble materials
and rare similar to those used by the greatest French luxury houses, make the
exceptional Artwhos collection. Through it, the artist teaches us that we must remove the
afraid of all equations and going beyond. “ Do, execute, see things for yourself
it is unique and very particular, it can lead to interesting discoveries.
Having a free mind is necessary to invent, technique is a means but as long as one
creator remains in quality, he amply justifies the process, thus the technique exists
to evolve and not to remain a closed idea ". A freedom that he invites us to translate ourselves
also in our own artistic expressions.