The history of the Air Max 1
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The Air Max 1 was one of Tinker Hatfield’s original masterworks for the Beaverton label. While this shoe wasn’t the first to boast Air technology – the label’s Air Max history behind the breakthrough of the infamous bubble debuting on the Tailwind – it was one of the first to showcase a visible Air unit in the sole, making technology an integral part of both the aesthetic as well as the comfort of the sole.
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An unconventional building in Paris inspired the design process of this one – a city with strong links to the trainer. During a visit to Georges Centre Pompidou in Paris, Hatfield was inspired to create the visible Air unit embedded within the shoe’s sole. Its inside-out design, which displays the building’s skeletal structure on its exterior, provided Hatfield with the idea to design a shoe using its inner workings to enhance its visual appeal. Using the idea, he placed a window in the midsole of the shoe to expose a sealed airbag – a detail never seen before – one that paved the way for future Air silhouettes.
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While various versions of the sneaker were released in the ‘90s, it wasn’t until 2002 that the first collaborative iteration was released by Japanese retailer, atmos. With a catalogue now spanning collaborations with Parra, HUF, Patta and Travis Scott as well as being rendered in iconic colourways like the 2003 ‘Curry’, there’s is no denying the Air Max 1 is cemented in Nike’s history as a pivotal visual turning point. Today, over three decades after its debut, it’s still an eminent and beloved silhouette in Nike’s arsenal, and even has a day dedicated entirely to it.
Shop the Nike Air Max 1 at size? now.
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