Comic Artist Ed Piskor Collaborates With Nike On ‘Baltimore’ High-Tops And Mural
by Hannah Means Shannon
Comic artist Ed Piskor, of Hip Hop Family Tree fame, and also as the artist on recently announced Marvel X-Men: Grand Design project, has been busy this past summer designing elements for Nike’s new “Baltimore” tribute high-tops in the Air Force 1 line.
Nike says that without the city of Baltimore, “the Nike Air Force 1 might have faded out of existence” since in 1984, two years after its launch, Nike wasn’t planning to continue production of this line of shoes, but customers in the city of Baltimore alone kept it alive.
Nike explains:
Celebrating the spirit of the city, the Nike Special Field Air Force 1 Mid “For Baltimore” pays homage with B’More detailing, a custom-embroidered strap, an ’84 hangtag and comic-inspired insoles. The shoes come in a box illustrated by artist Ed Piskor, who also created a comic book telling the story of the key players who helped keep the Air Force 1 in production.
Nike has partnered with local retailer Downtown Locker Room and Maryland community organization, Jubilee Arts, on a Baltimore youth arts program that launches in October.
A mural by Ed Piskor will be featured on the former site of the historic store, Cinderella Shoes, and commemorative plaques will appear at Downtown Locker Room, alongside where Cinderella Shoes and Charley Rudo Sports formerly existed.
The Nike SF AF-1 Mid “For Baltimore” has become available starting September 30th exclusively at Downtown Locker Room in Mondawmin Mall and on Monument Street in Baltimore.
If you’re in the region check them out, and lets hope for more Nike collaborations with the great Ed Piskor.
