"Made in Italy" Nike Air Force 1s are Returning in 2026

These are a callback to Nike’s 2007 25th Anniversary Air Force 1s that featured genuine crocodile leather and retailed for $2,000. The new version uses crocodile-embossed Italian leather instead of real croc, bringing the price down to a more accessible $600 while maintaining the luxury positioning.

Made in Italy Nike sneakers have always commanded premium prices due to the hand-crafted construction and limited production runs. The 800-pair-per-colorway cap is extremely tight compared to standard AF1 releases that hit tens of thousands of units.

The hitch here is the women’s only sizing. Historically, women’s shoes do not resell for the same prices as men’s, but that doesn’t make these a brick. Women’s sizing typically runs 1.5 sizes smaller than men’s, meaning a women’s size 10 converts to a men’s size 8.5. This opens up the buyer pool significantly for larger women’s sizes since men can wear them too.

Focus on copping women’s sizes 10 and above if possible. A women’s 12 converts to men’s 10.5, which is one of the most common men’s shoe sizes and sees the highest resale volume on platforms like StockX and GOAT. These larger sizes should perform much closer to men’s releases in terms of resale multiples.

Previous Made in Italy AF1s have sold in the $900-1,400 range on eBay depending on colorway and condition. With the premium Italian craftsmanship and 800-unit production cap, expect similar or higher resale prices given current sneaker market conditions.

At $600 retail flipping for $900-1,400, you’re looking at $300-800 gross profit. After eBay’s 13% fees, that’s roughly $260-695 net profit per pair. Larger sizes that appeal to male buyers should command the higher end of that range.

No confirmed release date yet, but leaks indicate a drop before summer 2026. Likely releasing through Nike SNKRS app and select Nike retailers that carry premium releases.

Watch Nike’s official channels for drop announcements. Given the limited 800-pair runs, these will sell out fast when they do release.

At $600 retail, you’re in for significant capital per pair. Nike typically doesn’t accept returns on limited releases, so verify the return policy before buying to understand your downside risk.

The key is focusing on larger women’s sizes that convert to common men’s sizes. Women’s 10-12 should move fastest and command the best prices since they open up to male buyers. Smaller women’s sizes (6-8) will have a more limited market.

Strong flip potential if you can secure pairs at retail, especially in larger women’s sizes. The Italian craftsmanship, crocodile-embossed leather, and 800-unit production runs create real scarcity. Target women’s sizes 10 and above to maximize resale potential by capturing both female and male buyers.

Worth pursuing if you have Nike SNKRS access or relationships with premium Nike accounts. The profit margins are solid enough to justify the capital investment, particularly on larger sizes.