Throughout the Nike Book 1 lifecycle, Devin Booker has taken inspiration from past Nike hits for colorways that pay homage to the classics. Of course, with his signature model developed with the mindset of combining lifestyle and performance and the phrase "future classic" being the cornerstone of the design, it only makes sense that the past continues to inform the future of Booker's line. Ahead of upcoming homages like the Air Max 95 Neon-inspired colorway, images of a previous Book 1 PE inspired by the Nike Air Safari have appeared.
Before we get into this Book 1, let's take a moment to look back at the Air Safari. Initially released in 1987 and designed by the legendary Tinker Hatfield, the Air Safari became a cult classic amongst sneakerheads. Inspiration for the exotic print came from a trip to a NYC furniture store where Hatfield saw an ostrich skin-covered couch.
Later, the model would inform the design of other iconic colorways and collaborations across Nike's lineup, including Foamposites, Air Max models, SB Dunks, and much more. The Air Safari received a retro in 2024, returning after a six-year hiatus.
