Nike's Air Force 1 "Puerto Rico" Release Cancelled Due to Design Error

Since 2000, Nike has celebrated Puerto Rico and its rich culture with with special edition kicks that release in tandem with New York’s world-renowned Puerto Rican Day Parade. Unfortunately, the sportswear brand had to cancel this year‘s drop due to a not-so-subtle design error.

Meant to be an extract replica of the original Air Force 1 Low “Puerto Rico” from 2000, the 2020 version was made with one flaw that’s preventing its release. Although it sports the same white and blue color scheme, PR flag at the heel and frog insole graphic, the year’s drop features a backwards flag on the tongue, unlike the original’s right-facing flag. We’re not sure how Nike missed this one, but here’s all the brand provided in its officials statement:

“Nike is removing the shoe from the marketplace, as it was intended to be a re-release of the Air Force 1 Low Puerto Rico from 2000 and the final product does not accurately reflect the original design.”

Nike also had to cancel last year’s Puerto Rico-honoring Air Force 1 after coming under public fire for mistakenly applying a Panamanian/Colombian print to the sneaker.

Currently, the now never-to-release 2020 AF1 “Puerto Rico” is on StockX with prices starting at $500 USD.

Held every second Sunday of June, the Puerto Rican Day Parade honors the island’s three million inhabitants and all people of Puerto Rican birth or heritage residing on the U.S. The parade runs along Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 86th Street and has grown to become one of the largest parades in the States, attracting celebrities and politicians from all over the country.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic however, this year’s parade has been canceled. Instead, a TV special will air on the New York-based WABC-TV Channel 7 this Sunday, June 14, at 12 p.m. EDT, and will star Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anthony Ramos, Ariana DeBose and more.