The Nike Air Foamposite One “Eggplant” is set to officially release on February 29th, 2024, in full family sizes. Adult, GS, PS, and TD sizes are confirmed to be available on SNKRS and select Nike retailers in North America. Originally released in 2009, this shoe is regarded as one of the best Foamposite colorways in history. It is renowned for its iridescent purple upper, black lace collar and tongue, and icy translucent outsole. Although officially labeled Black/Varsity Purple, the sneaker community quickly coined it “Eggplant”. Since then, the Eggplant Foamposites have become one of the most sought-after and memorable colorways ever.
A Brief History Lesson
While the Nike Air Foamposite One debuted in royal blue back in 1997, the iconic “Eggplant” colorway didn’t make its first appearance until 2009. It was a massive hit and easily considered one of the best sneaker releases of the year. Sneaker News even ranked it as the 5th best of 2009 in their annual Top 30 list.
Such was the popularity of the shoes that Nike decided to re-release them in March 2010, responding to pressure from footwear retail chain Foot Locker. From then on, Nike revisited the iridescent purple shade across various footwear models like the Air 1/2 Cent, Air Penny V, and more. Anything with that color-shifting shade was affectionately labeled “Eggplant”.
Foamposites saw a surge in popularity, reaching a peak with the 2012 “Galaxy” Foamposites. However, Nike’s oversaturation of the market with less impressive colorways and patterns led to a decline in hype, prompting Nike to temporarily pull the model from shelves for a reevaluation.
On July 29th, 2017, Nike re-released the Eggplant Foamposites for a third time. With sneaker trends shifting towards knit-uppered sock-like aesthetics, Foamposites faced some challenges in sales. Nevertheless, they eventually sold out, finding their way into the hands of loyal fans.
Fast-forward to 2024, Nike is once again releasing this all-time classic. While consumer interest in Foamposites has rebounded slightly, it’s nowhere near the heights of 2011 and 2012.
