Nike to release ‘Year of the Dragon’ Air Force 1 Low in China

Exclusive release: Instagram user @shanghaisole, who shared some of the promo photos, said the Nike shoes will be available in China on Feb. 14 for 2,599 yuan ($366). X user @brandon1an also shared some images, including the all-red box that comes with each pair.

Meanwhile, Nike has released a more minimalistic version of the sneakers in the U.S.

About its design: The Chinese “Year of the Dragon” Air Force 1 Low is covered in gold silk material and features various symbols and patterns, including flowers, a golden dragon, a phoenix, the Swoosh logos and the Chinese characters for “Harmony.” Nike is also reportedly releasing a pair of hoodies that celebrate the Lunar New Year, which will come in in red or beige.

Reactions: Many sneakerheads outside China expressed disappointment over the exclusive release. One wrote under @shanghaisole’s post, “This should have been the main Year of the Dragon, not the other one.”

“Nike making these exclusive to China is hurtful,” another user commented. “The pair that drop in the states look like a sketch of a sketch of a prototype in comparison to these.”

Another user praised the design of the Chinese shoes, saying “the details are insane” and made “the other Chinese New Year pairs look unfinished.”