In 1987, Nike debuted a shoe that would forever change footwear. Designed for runners in need of maximum cushioning and stability, the Air Max 1 featured the largest air sole unit to date. Nike designer Tinker Hatfield whilst on holiday in Paris saw the Pompidou center, all the visible pipelines were an inspiration and he said to his design team “ why donʼt we just cut a big hole in the midsole and let the air bag be kind of exposed” they did and the Air Max 1 was born. It was not just the design, which was unique, but also the colour, regular running shoes of the time were neutral coloured but the Air Max 1 introduced a ʼSport Redʼ colour wrapping the shoes. This radically aesthetic shoe was soon adopted by people interested in the growing street wear scene, their avid collecting of the multiple colour ways, the further successful evolutions of the shoe (Air Max Lite, AM 90, AM 95 etc) created a shoe which they deemed and continue to deem iconic up to this day.
In 1987 Tinker Hatfield also introduced the Air Safari, what the AM1 revolutionized in running on air, the Safari took the Nike footwear aesthetic forward through its bold use of pattern and print. Revisiting the era of the Air Max 1 and the Air Safari, Nike Sportswear has remixed two iconic shoes to create something entirely new. This Air Max 1 collection makes use of the Air Safariʼs iconic leopard print pattern and teams the Safariʼs premium leather (orange & red/ men) with the Air Maxʼs Air Sole. A textile version in white & grey along with the safari print is also available (men). For the women The Air Max 1 comes in white leather and orange leather both with the safari print and ready to pair with some spandex leggings.
To celebrate the return of the Air Max 1's Nike is throwin a party in Stockholm August 14th for a # of invited sneakerheads... stay tuned for deets & recaps....
