The Big News is the Nike 3 Decades of Cushioning Packs that are going to release beginning Jan. 21st. Read more for Info.
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The Idea.
At the heart of ‘3 Decades of Cushioning’ is a selection of the most iconic Nike Air cushioning products, personally selected by mark Parker, Nike Brand President, who is the engine driving this special endeavor. The brief he issued intends to generate ideas and design concepts that revolve around ‘Art and Science’, the two elements that are perfectly married in the Air Max 360 shoe. The mission has been driven further by designers Jesse Leyva, Richard Clark, Anthony Hope, Dave Schenone, and Tracie Wiest. Their collective imagination amassed concepts in 56 colors and 32 graphic applications displayed on 8 silhouettes.
The Beauty of Design
The complete Air max technology selection represents the Art, Science and Joy of Nike. Graphics created by Nike Designers during a special competition resulted in 6 different series of artistically stunning shoes. The display is an eye-popping array of Nike Air footwear, each layer representing a different inspiration and execution.
All Whites - Available at Niketowns and 255.
Maintaining the classic white color, embossed graphics representing the ‘Art & Science of Nike Air’ create a subtle and clean update to the classic silhouettes. In keeping with the originals, uppers are a blend of full grain, suede and nubuck leathers.
Extraordinary Oranges - Available at Niketowns and 255.
This strata begins to introduce the incredible use of color and detail seen across the display. This particular pack begins with a rose colored Original Max shoe and flows in oranges across the other 7 silhouettes, growing more amplified in color with each subsequent shoe and culminating in the rich, ruby red Air Max 360.
Blue Ribbons - Available at Niketowns and 255.
Being the very essence of polychromatic, the Blue Ribbons series was inspired by Takatoshi Akutagawa’s book, Blue Ribbons. A specific section in the book entitled “Which is your favorite?”urged the Nike design team to return to Nike’s iconic color palette. Down to the original tongue label from the early 70’s, all materials and fabrics have been replicated to authentically re-create the original 8 iconic silhouettes. The highlight of this series is a unique design merger between the original Air Max silhouettes and the aesthetics of the Blue Ribbon collection. Specifically, the couplings are:
Air Max 1 & the Yankee
Air Max 90′ & the Eagle Waffle (ca.1982)
Air Max 180 with the Daybreak Upper and the outsole from the Night Track (ca. 1983)
Air Max 93′ & the Le Village (ca.1974)
Air Max 95′ & the Oregon Waffle Racer (ca.1973)
Air Max 97′ & the Colorado (ca.1977)
Air Max 03′ & the Daybreak (ca.1979)
Air Max 360 & the Night Track (ca.1978)
Extraordinary Greens - Available at Niketowns and 255.
A similar approach to the Extraordinary orange series, the Green series uses a cooler color palette beginning with soft yellow, traversing through vibrant greens, finally ending with the sleek silver of the Air max 360. Air Sole units and eyelets fluidly move the color progression along from left to right.
All Blacks - Available at Niketowns and 255.
The tougher side of monochromatic uppers, this collection employs exclusive Nike laser technology by etching graphic stories of ‘Art and Science of AIR’ into the upper materials. As with the original models of each shoe, uppers are fabricated from a combination of full grain, suede and nubuck leathers.
Limited Edition - Available at NORT and Alife Rivington Club
Inspired by the toy industry and its prominent use of color, the visual focus is drawn to the Air bags by the boldly colored midsoles. Textural attention is directed to the all black uppers with the use of special materials including crocodile, ostrich and stingray. These materials have also been perforated for enhanced dimension and breathability. As a final stroke in the incredible artistic development of this series, the ‘Art & Science of AIR’ graphics have been carefully applied by laser. A wax film covers the application and protects the design and materials.
A Humble Tribute
While each series has its own personality, there is a unique touch they all share. The footprints of each designer in the original Air Max series have been imprinted on the sock liner of the shoe, or shoes, they created. From the All White to the Limited Edition, these prints can be found paying homage to the brilliant minds that carried Nike to the forefront of athletic footwear, thoughtfully stepping over and around all boundaries along the way. Their endurance is one of a kind and as it is passed from generation to generation their resounding footfalls can be heard in the time to come for Nike is truly in a race without a finishline.
