Few people have become as iconic in the world of design as Virgil Abloh.

 

The meteoric rise of his brand Off White is a testament to the design philosophy that Abloh has championed in recent years, going for more utilitarian and gritty deconstruction where brands like Gucci and Versace strive towards the ultimate luxe.

 

To this end, Off White has gained itself a deep following in the streetwear community. I dare you to find me a major industry Instagram feed that doesn’t feature their trademark stripes or cross logo.

 

Recently capturing a coveted position as the creative head of Louis Vuitton, Abloh has certainly solidified his place amongst fashion royalty.

 

But the basis of today’s discussion has more to do with Off White’s collaboration with Nike.

 

‘The Ten’, as it’s known in the streetwear sphere, is a collection of 10 Nike sneaker models that were reworked by the prolific creative, ranging from old school models like the Blazer all the way to its most cutting-edge models, such as the Air Vapormax.

 

The most valuable of these releases – the most coveted – are the Air Jordan 1 and the Nike Air Presto. Currently, the Off White x Jordan 1 is easily one of the most expensive pairs on the resale market.

 

Widely regarded as the runner up is the Air Presto. The Jordan 1 has received three colorway releases since its primary inception, each garnering tons of hype.

 

But the Presto seems to have taken a passenger seat. This past week, things heated up when photos emerged of the new Off White x Nike Air Presto colorways, including monotone updates in both a black and a white.

 

Fans of the Presto, we frankly felt the originals left a little something to be desired. We weren’t huge fans of the oversized tongue or the neon lacing.

 

But this new release has us reconsidering.

 

The all black and white iterations are clean, simple, and allow you more of an opportunity to ogle the materials and construction of the sneakers, rather than focusing on the neon green and orange laces or the “AIR” branding loudly embossed on the anterior heel of the shoe.

 

Something about these new pairs seems rawer, simpler.

 

To some these Prestos won’t cause you to bat an eyelash. To others, they’ll be as irresistible as a moth to flame.

 

But, the real question regards the future of Off White x Nike releases: 

 

Are the colorway drops in each model decreasing overall value and demand?

 

Could we be witnessing the saturation of a product line, much like adidas has seen with its famed Yeezy collaborations?

 

Will these upcoming Presto releases be as popular (and difficult to win) as they were the first time around?

 

Time will tell. But one thing is for sure.

 

We here at RNGLDR approve of the binary black and white treatments.