Mr Jerry Lorenzo is not a man to wear his influences lightly. First, there’s the big guy, as in God, who has inspired not just his spiritual beliefs, but the very name of his luxury leisurewear line, Fear of God. And then there’s Nike. Even before Mr Lorenzo made the connection official with last year’s collaboration on the Nike Air Fear of God 1 shoe, the Swoosh loomed over his output. From the oversized, basketball-tinged aesthetic to the Mr Bruce Lee-style tracksuit worn by Mr Kendrick Lamar in “Kung Fu Kenny” mode, his admiration for Nike’s 1980s to 1990s output was there to be seen. But nowhere was it more obvious than with his sneakers.

From the sleek uppers to the chunky soles, Fear of God’s own original high-top sneakers revealed a tip of the snapback to another big man, Mr Michael Jordan, or at least his footwear, the Air Jordan 1. But for his second team-up with the Oregon-based sporting behemoth, Mr Lorenzo has delved a bit deeper.

New to drop on MR PORTER, the Nike Fear of God 180, as with the Nike Air Fear of God 1 before it, plays with the 180-degree midsole unit, doubled-stacked here, that Nike first introduced with its 1991 Air Max offshoot. The early 1990s lineage doesn’t end there, though. The other significant reference point is the Air Raid, a 1992 shoe designed by Mr Tinker Hatfield, who also created numerous generations of Air Jordans, as well as co-authoring that original Air Max 180 running shoe.

Featuring a heavy-duty lateral bumper, as is the terminology, the Air Raid came with the maxim “For Outdoor Use Only” etched into its back heel and the bottom of the outsole. And to reinforce the rough-and-tumble image, not to mention the shoe itself, it came with two criss-cross straps to hold it firm in even the most frantic hard-court encounter.

Along with the Nike Fear of God Moc, a mid-top reworking of the Nike Fear of God 1 with a single strap, the collection pays homage to the shoe that saw Mr Lorenzo through high school. But both shoes also show the designer is happy to look beyond basketball for a good idea, with stitching borrowed from the football field (or soccer, if you’re that way inclined) built into the toe. The 180 comes in an off-white Light Bone tone, while the ripstop Moc is available on MR PORTER in a light grey Pure Platinum colourway.

Whether you plan to take them outside or keep yours safely boxed up is your call.