The Apron Records x Nike Air 180 Collab Has Me Feeling Some Type of Way

Y’all. I need to talk about something that’s got me checking my bank account and calendar obsessively: the upcoming Apron Records x Nike Air 180 collaboration dropping this March. As someone who’s had their fair share of 3am lineup experiences (and the subsequent ramen-only diet weeks that follow), this one’s hitting different.

Let me take you back to 2011 when I camped outside a store for six hours in the rain for a pair of sneakers that—let’s be honest—weren’t even that great. I ended up with a cold, soggy socks, and a pair of kicks I only wore twice. You’d think I’d learn my lesson, but here I am, over a decade later, already planning how to secure these bad boys.

What’s All the Fuss About?

Apron Records isn’t just any music label. The London-based outfit has been putting out some seriously good electronic music for years, and their aesthetic has always been on point. Now they’re bringing that vibe to the Air Max 180, and I’m here for it.

The main release comes in this gorgeous “Dark Atomic Teal” colorway that’s basically a sophisticated dark green. I’m already imagining how these would look with my favorite worn-in jeans. The mix of leather and hairy suede panels gives it this texture that you just don’t see in most sneakers these days. It’s like they’re actually made of something real, you know?

Last week, I was telling my buddy Jake about these, and he wasn’t impressed until I mentioned the mismatched swooshes and black faux crocodile skin heel. That’s when he got it. These aren’t just another pair of Nikes—they’ve got character. The chrome details are just *chef’s kiss* perfect, adding just enough flash without going overboard.

The Devil’s in the Details

Can we talk about those razor blade lace dubraes for a second? When I first saw pictures, I literally spilled coffee on my keyboard (RIP my spacebar that still sticks sometimes). It’s these little touches that make a collab worth paying attention to.

And that distressed Air unit? Genius. It gives the whole shoe this vintage, lived-in look right out of the box. It reminds me of when we used to intentionally scuff up new sneakers in high school to make them look “worn in.” Except, you know, done properly by professionals and not by dragging them behind your bike like I may or may not have done once.

The “Bloodline” Edition: London’s Little Secret

Now here’s where my FOMO is kicking into high gear. There’s a second colorway called “Bloodline” in Team Red that’s limited to just 300 pairs. And they’re only selling them in London. THREE HUNDRED PAIRS! That’s basically nothing in sneaker world.

I’ve been frantically texting my cousin who moved to London last year. She doesn’t care about sneakers at all, but I’ve promised her a fancy dinner and my babysitting services next time she visits if she’ll try to grab me a pair. She hasn’t responded yet, which probably means she’s busy, but could also mean she’s ignoring me because the last time I asked her to buy me something overseas, it involved a very complicated return process and a minor customs issue we don’t talk about anymore.

March 8th: Mark Your Calendars

Both versions drop on March 8, 2025, which gives me plenty of time to save up and plan my strategy. Will I be refreshing multiple tabs that morning? Absolutely. Will I be wearing my lucky socks? You bet. Will I probably end up disappointed and consoling myself with pancakes afterward? History suggests yes.

If you’re thinking about trying to grab these, my advice is to follow both Apron Records and Nike on social media NOW. Sometimes they drop little hints or early access codes for followers. I’ve scored a couple of limited releases that way in the past.

I’m also already planning what I’d wear with these. The teal would look amazing with black jeans and maybe that olive jacket I bought last winter and have only worn twice because I’m “saving it for something special.” Isn’t it funny how we do that with clothes? Buy something we love and then barely wear it?

Anyway, March can’t come soon enough. Whether I score a pair or just end up admiring them from afar on the feet of more fortunate sneakerheads on Instagram, these Apron Records x Nike Air 180s are definitely going to be one of the standout collabs of 2025.

Who else is planning to try for these? Let me know in the comments if you’re Team Teal or holding out hope for that ultra-rare Bloodline edition!