In celebration of Back To The Future Day, which fell on October 21, 2015, Nike posted an announcement on Twitter which effortlessly created a huge buzz in the sneaker world.
The tweet showed a letter from Nike chief designer Tinker Hatfield, the creative mind behind many of Air Jordan's most recognizable and enduring designs, addressed to Michael J. Fox, who played Marty McFly, the lead character of the popular movie franchise. The letter alluded to Nike's impending plan of releasing actual pairs of the iconic self-lacing Air Mags to the market.
The Nike Air Mags with the power lacing system first appeared on "Back to the Future Part II," the second film of the franchise that was released in November 1989. Since then, clamor for the sneakers has grown. While some models and replicas of the sneakers have surfaced, Nike never released actual commercial models of the shoes, but it looks like that is going to change.
Hatfield wrote that while the sneakers were just created to add more oomph to the science fiction series, he said in his letter, "We're now proud to turn that fiction into fact."
"If my calculations are correct... your pair should be with you shortly," reads the post script.
In honor of the film and the shoes' first and most celebrated wearer, Nike gifted Fox with first pair of the iconic sneakers. Hours later, Fox posted a picture on Twitter, confirming the receipt of the first pair of one of the most celebrated footwear on film.
The image shows Fox trying the shoes on, complete with the power lacing system, an innovation that many believed to become a reality when the film released in 1989.
"This is real," tweeted Fox.
Nike has confirmed that the shoes will see mass production in 2016. In addition to Fox's pair, the Oregon-based sportswear giant has pledged a few more pairs to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation, an organization Fox established to help in the research and development of cure against Parkinson's disease.
Fox was diagnosed with the condition in 1991 and retired from acting in 2000 after the symptoms of his disease intensified.