The Specialist | Virgil Abloh’s Reimagining of the Iconic Nike Air Force 1 for Louis Vuitton, with Brahm Wachter

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 29 November 2025

⏱️ 13 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This is an episode of The Specialist, your weekly dose of wonder. In The Specialist, explore the significance and journey of an extraordinary work through the eyes of those that know it best. On today’s episode, an auction built overnight - Virgil Abloh’s reimagining of the iconic Nike Air Force 1 for Louis Vuitton. The auction became a global phenomenon, with two hundred pairs sold exclusively through Sotheby’s, attracting bidders from more than 50 countries. Brahm Wachter, Sotheby's Head of Modern Collectibles based in Los Angeles, orchestrated the sale. Further details about the episode subject. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:47.5	com. Hello, I'm Fergus from the BBC Country Farm magazine podcast. We're sponsored by the Woodland Trust, which protects woods and woodland wildlife, such as red squirrels and dormice,
0:52.5	all across Britain. Escaping into nature, especially walking among the trees, boosts your mental and physical
0:58.6	well-being.
1:00.4	Plus there's always a great chance for thrilling encounters with the birds and other animals
1:04.3	inhabiting these beautiful landscapes.
1:07.1	And there's no better way to support the vital conservation of our precious woods and trees than by becoming a Woodland Trust member from just £4 a month.
1:15.7	Visit woodlandtrust.org.uk forward slash join and get involved today.
1:21.4	Welcome to Intelligence Squared where Great Minds meet. I'm head of programming Connor Boyle.
1:27.0	Today, something a little different,
1:28.9	we're excited to share with you a hand-picked episode of a brand new series, The Specialist,
1:33.5	produced by Intelligence Squared, in partnership with Sotheby's. We've all heard the stories of the
1:38.7	record-breaking works, headline-grabbing auctions and moments that shock the art world and beyond.
1:47.4	But have you ever wondered what's happening behind the scenes?
	...

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