Las Vegas is about to get a little more golden.
Making its U.S. debut, kim-a: the next-generation gold brand from Taiwan, is bringing 999.9 pure gold into street culture and design. Blending four decades of goldsmith heritage with bold creative experimentation, the brand introduces its first major U.S. project: the Nike Air Force 1 “The Way of Sun and Moon.”
This special pair of Air Force draws 1s is inspired by the ancient Eastern myth of the Golden Crow and Jade Hare, symbols of balance between light and darkness, movement and stillness. The Golden Crow, representing the sun, embodies forward momentum and courage. The Jade Hare, the moon’s guardian, stands for peace, renewal, and reflection. Together, they represent harmony between opposites, a central theme of kim-a:’s design philosophy.
Each shoe’s surface features this duality through contrasting tones and golden detail. As the sneaker moves, it becomes a living metaphor for the eternal dance between day and night, turning an everyday icon of sport and fashion into a vessel of cultural storytelling.
To create this piece, kim-a: transformed solid 999.9 gold into ultra-fine 0.1mm thread, a process that pushes the limits of traditional goldsmithing. The team meticulously embroidered the precious metal through the leather of the Air Force 1, maintaining the structural integrity of both materials. Every stitch required precise control, the pressure, angle, and density calibrated to perfection, ensuring both resilience and luster.
Furthering the challenge, kim-a: embedded solid gold “AIR” lettering into the rubber sole using custom steel molds made for each foot. Nearly a thousand golden stardust motifs were cast, polished, and embedded by hand, each demanding microscopic accuracy. The result is a flawless fusion of modern 3D modeling technology and age-old craftsmanship, a process that took hundreds of hours and no room for error.
“The act of sewing gold into leather is a defiance of the impossible,” said the brand’s creative team. “Each pair reflects persistence, precision, and a belief that greatness is forged, not found.”
Retailing for $330,000 USD, this special project from kim-a will be on display at ComplexCon this weekend. The project represents an unprecedented dialogue between street culture and high craftsmanship, with every pair made to order and assembled entirely by hand in Taiwan. Collectors and global buyers can inquire through www.kima999.com, where kim-a: provides personalized consultation and one-on-one service for bespoke orders.
