The Nike x Kith Linen Collection Unearths 25 Years of Sneaker History
Reintroducing the 2001 Air Force 1 Linen as the “Un-Linen,” and bringing the Air Max 95 Linen into the mix.
by Nico Gavino · HypebeastSUMMARY
- The “Un-Linen” Air Force 1 flips the classic color blocking with a pink leather upper and brown Swoosh
- A companion Air Max 95 stays true to the original palette by utilizing a brown upper with pink Air bubbles
Kith and Nike are unearthing 25 years of sneaker history with the upcoming release of the Kith x Nike “Linen” Collection. Scheduled for a Summer 2026 release, the two-shoe pack builds on Ronnie Fieg’s decade-long obsession with the retro colorway, delivering a completely inverted take on the Air Force 1 alongside a new translation of the Air Max 95.
Originally released in 2001 as a Japan-exclusive (CO.JP) Air Force 1, the soft brown and pink palette became a grail for collectors. In 2016, Kith cemented a deep connection to the colorway by launching its first-ever retro during Art Basel Miami. Now, a decade after that historic reissue, Fieg is rewiring the shoe’s history with a bold material and visual flip.
The standout of the pack is the “Un-Linen” Air Force 1, which reverses the classic 2001 color blocking. Premium pink leather takes over the bulk of the upper, replacing the traditional tan base, while the tan shade is relegated to the Swoosh and the outsole, breathing new life into the familiar profile. Rounding out the release is the new Air Max 95 Linen, which transfers the lifestyle-focused palette to the more performance-geared runner silhouette. Staying truer to the original formula, the silhouette spreads the signature brown tones across its panels with a hidden Kith logo emerging from behind. The pastel pink accents provide a balanced contrast, appearing in the eyelets, lace loops, and the model’s signature visible Air bubbles. Together, the duo serves as both a technical material update and a love letter to one of the most important color stories of the 2000s.
The Kith x Nike “Linen” Collection drops Summer 2026 via Kith.