LOS ANGELES, CA.- Heritage Auctions will be the first major international auction house to offer collectible sneakers. In the highly anticipated June 11 sale titled "The Future is Now." The most coveted sneakers will be showcased alongside urban art, skateboard decks, surfboards, luxury handbags and other contemporary collectibles. Leading the sale is the only complete set of all-white Air Jordans, originally given by Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant when Bryant retired. The set consists of the entire Air Jordan line (I through XXX) specifically made for Kobe Bryant in his size 14. The set was acquired by a private, California-based collector, who will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Los Angeles chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

"The history, scale, importance and rarity of this set is unrivaled," said Leon Benrimon, Director of Modern & Contemporary Art at Heritage Auctions.

The title of the auction, "The Future is Now," was adopted from the box for the 2016 Nike Air Mag, a sneaker made famous by Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future II. The automatically lacing sneaker, first conceived in 1989 and finally developed in 2016, symbolizes the growing global interest in the collectible sneaker market. The auction also will include the 2011 edition of the Nike Air Mag accompanied by its original box, hand-signed by Tinker Hatfield, the sneaker's creator. Additional highlights include one of a kind Nikes hand-painted by street artist "Mr. Brainwash" and collector favorites such as Yeezys, classic and retro Jordans, Nike x Supreme collaborations, and the recent Air Jordan x KAWS collaboration.

"It's an exciting moment for Heritage as we undertake this initiative to bridge the gap and draw similarities between industries that have been heavily influenced by street culture and contemporary art," Benrimon said. "Our goal is to offer bidders a new platform where they can collect a diverse group of objects."

For"The Future is Now," Heritage is proud to partner with StockX, the worlds' first "stock market of things," to provide expertise, support and authentication as Heritage makes its initial foray into sneakers. Currently estimated at $6 billion globally, the secondary sneaker market includes dozens of channels, including online marketplaces, apps, consignment shops, trade shows and more, but until today, never has had a true presence at auction.

"We're excited to partner with Heritage for 'The Future is Now,'" said StockX Co-Founder and CEO Josh Luber. "As StockX prepares to expand from a sneaker stock market to one for watches and handbags, as well, it's a perfect time to help Heritage – a leader in the luxury watch and handbag space – expand into sneakers."