Air Maxes have been the subject of collaborations on a regular basis over the course of its 30-year existence. While most of these partnerships end up in changes in colors and materials, NikeLab upped the ante by giving three individuals full reins on three distinct Air Max entities – the Air Max 1, the Air Max 97, and the soon-to-release Vapormax shoes.
Partnering with Marc Newson, Riccardo Tisci, and Arthur Huang – three leaders in their respective fields – NikeLab presents the Vision-AIRS collection, showcasing the breakthrough Air technology through the lens of these pioneers of design. See the three designs below and stay tuned for a live look at these creations later tonight on our Facebook page. Release info to be revealed soon.
NikeLab Air Vapormax x Marc Newson
NikeLab and industrial design veteran Marc Newson join forces to distill the essence of industrial craft and technology. The result is a combination of Newson’s cultured aesthetic and Nike’s future-forward technologies — FlyKnit and Air VaporMax. — yielding a lightweight, uniquely elegant new silhouette. Inspired by traditional moccasin construction, Newson’s vision of Air Max joins a full-grain leather chassis and Velcro strap frame to pre-molded Nike Flyknit sockliner with a striking cross-stitch. A TPU cupsole bonds the upper to the breakthrough Nike VaporMax Air unit, allowing the shoe a lightweight and responsive underfoot feel.
NikeLab Air Max 97 x Riccardo Tisci
Fashion legend Riccardo Tisci channels his unmistakable aesthetic through the legendary ‘90s icon that shaped Italian footwear culture. The updated Nike Air Max 97 gets an elevated mid-cut that draws simultaneously from Tisci’s Italian couture influences and streetstyle background. A concealed zip pocket on the tongue gives the shoe some added functionality, while a translucent milky white outsole creates a stunning contrast with the runway-inspired tumbled synthetic leather and synthetic suede underlays of the upper. To finish it off, foil accents and embossed logos update the OG tooling.
NikeLab Air Max 1 Ultra 2.0 Flyknit x Arthur Huang
Featuring new tooling and materials, the NikeLab Air Max 1 Ultra 2.0 x Arthur Huang is among the lightest Air Max 1 ever built. Honoring the idea of encapsulated innovation, Miniwiz CEO and architect Arthur Huang has created a lightweight package made entirely of post-consumer materials, complementing the Air Max and helping to both spark the imagination and redefine the possibilities of modern manufacture.