In typical Nike style, a pack has been created to help celebrate this year’s World Expo hosted in Shanghai. The Quickstrike pack consists of a Blazer Mid 09 and Air Max 90; two classic styles fitting to appeal to the diverse masses that the World Expo attracts. While there’s no surprise that an Asia-inspired would utilize a rich red, the graphic pattern found on the AM90’s mudguard and Blazer’s medial panel is a unique take of the Chinese National Pavilion.
Though both pairs tie in with the same aesthetic, it’s the different material application that creates a distinction of each pair. The Blazer utilizes super premium leather for the medial panel. No photo can do it justice; it’s only obvious to the touch. To contrast the soft leather, ripstop nylon is found on both the vamp and the Swooth. Another applique that readers might not have been aware of is the pearlized patent for the white midsole trim that wraps around the entire shoe.
Moving onto the Air Max 90, the first noticeable difference from the Blazer is the use of mesh in the vamp. Patent leather sees to this pair as well, but more prominent as its used for the upper overlay. The mudguard is where the China Pavilion pattern is found, but on a typical leather seen on most Nike products. The pattern is also found on the collar, however now seen on canvas rather than leather. Finally detailing, as well as the China theme, translates on the insole, created by similar lines of the China Crown concept but with bursts of colors. Already released, these have become one of the best conceptual packs to come out Nike, and certainly one of the biggest disappointments for US consumers as the pack is an Asia-exclusive.