Nubuck used to be such an underrated and occasionally used material for sneakers until the rise of sneaker culture. It’s no surprise though that it wasn’t utilized much by athletic footwear brands because it wasn’t as durable or weatherproof as its rawer version, suede. (Yes people, to many surprises - some of our favorite brands actually made shoes specifically for activity, not just to stroll down the block for attention). Nonetheless, the felt-like feel of nubuck adds so much flavor and sophistication to a shoe. Case in point, the AF1 shown here. A classic deep red tonal upper featuring nubuck to accompany its typical leather makes for a slick look. Available at SneakerBistro, or any of your other local Nike retailers.