Nike Air Max 1

Air Max 1

In the mid-1980s, Nike was on a mission to design a shoe which would show off its comfortable Air cushioning. However, the task was not so easy, and the brand’s designers struggled to find a workable solution. A fresh perspective was needed, so architect Tinker Hatfield was recruited to take on the challenge. He was sent to Paris to find inspiration and returned with an idea based on the unconventional design of the famous Center Pompidou building. The result was a bold new sneaker which came to be known as the Nike Air Max 1.

The key innovation on the Air Max was the oblong-shaped windows set into each side of the heel, which offered a view of the airbags inside. Some Nike employes were skeptical of Tinker’s design, questioning its structural stability and its eccentric look. However, the strong support of colleague David Forland was enough to see it go into production, particularly once the Air Max unit had been perfected. Even so, not long after the first pairs had been manufactured, it was found that the airbag would crack in cold conditions, and Nike quickly had to rework the design, giving it a smaller window that was stable enough to handle low temperatures.

When it came out in 1987, the Air Max 1 was marketed as a stylish running shoe with advanced cushioning. One famous advert featuring sports stars like John McEnroe and Michael Jordan highlighted its athletic abilities and used the famous Beatles track, Revolution, to signify a new era of footwear design. It was a massive success, and Nike soon decided to establish a whole line of sneakers based upon the Air Max concept. Meanwhile, it launched Tinker Hatfield’s career as a shoe designer, and he went on to create some of the brand’s most well-known silhouettes.

Although Nike is still doing innovative things with Air Max technology, the original shoe has never been forgotten. Over the years, it has been celebrated through memorable collaborations with the likes of atmos, Patta and Travis Scott, while alternative models like the Air Max Zero and the Air Max 1 ‘86 have helped to tell the incredible story behind the making of the first Air Max. This rich history puts the Nike Air Max 1 among the brand’s most iconic silhouettes as it continues to change the sneaker landscape to this day.