With Nike Air Max Day ‘22 fast approaching, sneakerhead society is abuzz with wistful whispers of upcoming colourways and collaborations. Since 2014 crep collectors and casual connoisseurs have relished in all things Air Max – as Nike celebrates the long lineage and cultural impact of the Air Max 1. Although Nike never needs an excuse to unlock the archives, March 26th 2022 offers the brand an additional cause for commemoration as the Air Max 1 turns 35. Few things, except maybe Dame Judie Dench & Keanu Reeves, have aged with such effortless elegance as the Air Max 1. Therefore, in recognition, Nike is pulling out all the stops to honour the historic backbone of its running revolution.
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So, what is happening on Air Max Day? In Nike’s own words, the releases and surrounding events of this year’s festivities will build around and bolster the shoe’s “global impact as a worldwide phenomenon”. Three key colourways have been unveiled. They pay homage to the talents of Tinker Hatfield, the original transcendent tailor behind the shoe that has shaped so much about global street style and culture since its creation. Nike will be bringing back its ‘Give Fresh Air’ campaign alongside the release, partnering with Patta for an exclusive one night only game show that will unite sneaker supporters from London, Amsterdam and Paris to raise money and spotlight purposeful causes in each city.
Out of all the designs dropping this weekend, it’s the America exclusive Air Max 1 ‘Blueprint’ that’s causing the most envy amongst those fortunate enough to reach the rarified air of SNKRS app victory. Baby blue mesh and layered leather strung alongside an architectural blueprint style swoosh, offering a bold break away from more muted and mass marketable iterations. The overall aesthetic of the silhouette has an uncanny affinity to the recent Nike x Patta collab, perhaps Nike’s most noteworthy and sought-after Air Max in recent times.
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The ‘La Ville-Lumiere’ colourway, translating as ‘City of Lights’, will be exclusively available to the European market – explaining why the name and glittering design have been constructed to mirror the magic of Paris. Lastly, Latin America’s Air Max Day’s offering is nothing to be sniffed at. The Air Max 1 ‘Wabi-Sabi’ embodies the beauty in the broken as it draws on (you guessed it) the Japanese principle of ‘Wabi-Sabi’ to create a Cactus Plant Flea Market-esque ensemble.
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The Air Max 1, much like its creator, has become part of the patchwork fabric of global contemporary culture – branching beyond the realms of sport and fashion and into the worlds of music, skateboarding, street art, hype hysteria and many more. Come celebrate this industry icon with us and tune into the Give Fresh Air: The Game Show this Saturday, March 26th.
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