Instagram says real. BAPE says fake. Bloggers say “we’ll see.”

2019 Paris Fashion Week brought more than gorgeous designs invoking the King of Pop.

Virgil Abloh, the American fashion designer, closed the French Fashion House’s Fall/Winter 2019 Louis Vuitton collection. He sported a dressed down Black on Black ensemble with the focus on his feet. To his Off-White x BAPE Air Force 1 inspired Bapestas.

The details…

White leather Bapesta logos compliment White laces ironically screaming “SHOELACES.” A chrome BAPE jewel sits atop the tongue base. The White shooting star stripe over the faded circa 1993 BAPE trademark calls back to the mogel’s work with Nike Air Force 1s “The 10” series.

Namely the Black croc-skin upper beautifully breaks up the print size in the mudguard, quarter panel and heel counter. At this time, Virgil considers the Black/White colorway a “visual obsession.”

And then, we waited…..

Following PFW, sneaker fans anticipated an update for official release on the Air Force 1 styled kicks. Suddenly in October sneaker website @sneakerjamz posted several pics and videos teasing at their availability.

Subsequently BAPE representatives were quick to confirm that the images were actually fake. Subtle differences could be found in the crocodile print and font used for the BAPE trademark.

As a result, active posts on the subject are now considered “mock ups.” All the same, no concrete answer on release dates are available. In fact this maybe on of BAPEs one of one pairs unique to the designer. Even so fan bases for both the Swoosh and Abloh waits for further news.

Abloh founded Milan-based fashion house Off-White in 2013. Furthermore he is acting chief executive officer. There isn’t an industry Virgil can’t make his own as an artist, architect, entrepreneur and DJ.

One of Time’s 100 most influential people in 2018, Abloh entered the international fashion scene in 2009. Starting out with an Fendi internship alongside Yeezy, himself. Consequently, the two would collaboratively create the path leading to Off-White’s founding.

Stay linked Here for the latest on Abloh’s Off-White x BAPE collabo and other sneaker updates.