Nike Foamposite Eggplant: 2009-2024 History, Specs & Price
The Nike Foamposite Eggplant, officially the Nike Air Foamposite One Varsity Purple, is a metallic basketball sneaker. It debuted in February 2009 and returned in 2010, 2017, and January 2024 at a $240 retail price. Collectors never forget how your favorite veggies inspired the iridescent purple shell above an icy outsole. Meanwhile, 2017 pairs trade at a $323 resale average.
- 2024 Release & Retail: Launched January 18, 2024 (SKU FN5212-001) at a $240 retail price across SNKRS and select boutiques.
- Complete Release Timeline: Released in February 2009 ($200), March 2010 ($200), July 2017 ($230), and January 2024 ($240).
- Core Technical Specs: Molded Varsity Purple polyurethane shell, black nubuck eyestays, carbon fiber shank, and double-stacked heel Zoom Air.
- Secondary Market Benchmarks: 2017 pairs average $323 on resale platforms, while 2024 pairs trade between $235 and $290.
How Did the 1997 Foamposite Lead to the 2009 Eggplant Debut?
Designer Eric Avar created the original Nike Air Foamposite One in 1997 for Orlando Magic guard Penny Hardaway. As documented in the Nike Air Foamposite One design archive, engineers poured heated polyurethane liquid into custom steel molds. Each steel mold cost $750,000 per shoe size according to brand archives. That seamless upper debuted at $180 at retail in 1997, and the OG Royal colorway returned in 2023.
Before the purple shade reached Penny Hardaway’s signature model, designers tested the palette on another silhouette. The 2008 Nike Air Flightposite One Eggplant introduced the metallic purple finish to basketball collectors. Strong buyer demand convinced the brand to launch the Nike Foamposite Eggplant in February 2009 at a $200 retail price. A follow-up restock arrived in March 2010.
How Did Wale and DMV Culture Popularize the Nike Foamposite Eggplant?
Regional adoption across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia turned the molded basketball shoe into a streetwear icon. Local collectors wore Posites with heavy denim and winter parkas years before nationwide hype peaked. Between 2008 and 2009, D.C. rapper Wale wore early-release pairs on magazine covers and concert stages. That alignment between hip-hop music and sneakers pushed the Varsity Purple colorway into mainstream fashion.
As mid-Atlantic demand spread nationwide, limited Foamposite drops began drawing multi-day campouts outside mall retailers. By February 2012, the All-Star Galaxy release triggered the Orlando sneaker campout chaos. That event forced major footwear brands to replace overnight lines with digital store raffles. The 2009 and 2010 Eggplant drops sit right at the center of that golden Posite era.
How Do the 2009, 2010, 2017, and 2024 Eggplant Releases Compare?
Across 15 years of production, the Nike Foamposite Eggplant has released four separate times. Every edition keeps the core Black and Varsity Purple color blocking intact. The February 2009 original (SKU 314996-051) and March 2010 restock both retailed at $200. Those early pairs featured a deep purple metallic sheen with a clear translucent outsole. Seven years later, the July 2017 retro (SKU 314996-008) celebrated the model’s 20th anniversary at a $230 retail price.
On the secondary market, the 2017 Nike Foamposite Eggplant trades at an average of $323 per platform data. Seven years after that 2017 drop, the January 18, 2024 release (SKU FN5212-001) arrived at a $240 retail price. The 2024 edition adds a cooler blue-tinted icy rubber outsole to slow natural oxidation over time.
| Release Edition | Style Code | Launch Date | Original Retail Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 OG Eggplant | 314996-051 | February 2009 | $200 |
| 2010 Restock Edition | 314996-051 | March 2010 | $200 |
| 2017 20th Anniversary Retro | 314996-008 | July 29, 2017 | $230 |
| 2024 Retro Edition | FN5212-001 | January 18, 2024 | $240 |
What Materials and Zoom Air Cushioning Define the FN5212-001 Build?
The 2024 FN5212-001 build pairs its rigid Varsity Purple polyurethane shell with a breathable black mesh inner bootie. Body heat gradually molds the foam shell to the wearer’s foot over 5 to 10 wears. Black synthetic nubuck runs along the scalloped eyestays and heel collar. Purple pull tabs and Penny Hardaway’s signature “1 Cent” emblem accent the tongue and heel. Because the molded shell does not stretch laterally, wide-footed buyers should order 0.5 size up.
Few basketball sneakers match the structural longevity of the Air Foamposite One, where double-stacked Zoom Air and a rigid polyurethane shell resist creasing for decades.
Underfoot, the shoe retains its 1997 performance specifications. A full-length Zoom Air strobel bag sits above a second Zoom Air unit double-stacked inside the heel. A checkered carbon fiber spring plate stabilizes the arch above the herringbone traction pods.
What Are the Resale Prices and Seller Payouts for 2017 and 2024 Pairs?
Collectors adding the Nike Foamposite Eggplant to a long-term sneaker collection see a clear price split by year. Deadstock 2017 pairs (314996-008) average $323 across sizes 8 through 13 because unyellowed 2017 outsoles are scarce. By comparison, the January 2024 release (FN5212-001) trades near $245 in sizes 8 to 10. Larger pairs in sizes 11.5 to 13 reach $285 per market data.
Sellers evaluating secondary market listings must factor in platform commissions against the $240 retail price. According to the GOAT seller fee schedule, the platform deducts a 9.5% base commission plus a 2.9% cash-out fee. Selling a 2024 size 12 pair at $285 yields roughly $244 net after GOAT fees. Meanwhile, a 2017 pair sold at the $323 average returns roughly $278 net.
| Edition and Size Tier | Retail Price | Average Resale Ask | Estimated Net Payout (After 9.5% Fee) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Retro (Sizes 8-10) | $240 | $245 | $209 |
| 2024 Retro (Sizes 11.5-13) | $240 | $285 | $244 |
| 2017 Retro (Average All Sizes) | $230 | $323 | $278 |
| 2009 / 2010 OG (Deadstock) | $200 | $410 | $354 |
How Can Buyers Secure Limited Foamposite Retros at Retail?
Securing high-demand Posite retros at their $240 MSRP requires preparation across SNKRS LEO draws and boutique raffles. Mastering how to buy sneakers for retail starts with entering local and nationwide raffles at Foot Locker and Hibbett 5 days early. Sizes 11.5 through 14 carry lower production ratios on molded shell models because each size requires separate steel molds. Those larger sizes sell out within minutes of the 10:00 AM EST release window.
Buyers who want to automate multi-storefront checkouts can review our beginner guide to sneaker botting. That resource covers task scheduling, proxy rotation, and billing profile management. Leading all-in-one sneaker bots include Valor AIO, Cybersole, Stellar AIO, and NikeShoeBot, each supporting Shopify, Footsites, and SNKRS release modules.
Do Air Foamposite One sneakers fit true to size?
Air Foamposite One sneakers fit snug out of the box until body heat molds the shell over 5 to 10 wears. Narrow and standard feet can go true to size, while wide feet should order 0.5 size up.
How can owners prevent the translucent outsole from yellowing?
Owners should wipe moisture and road salt off the icy rubber outsole immediately after each wear. Storing pairs in a cool, dark room away from direct sunlight slows down natural rubber oxidation.
