The most celebrated day in the sneaker calendar, Air Max Day is back again and this year the Air Max 1 is the star of the show. A pioneer silhouette that paved the way for a new wave of fashion-led sneakers, the Air Max 1 was the first shoe of its kind to proudly display the expertly designed cushioning underfoot. Inspired by architecture and built by Nike legend Tinker Hatfield, the Air Max 1 is being truly honoured this AM Day.
To pay homage to the Air Max series, we’ve rounded up six staple styles your shoedrobe needs.
Nike Air Max 1 x Patta Monarch
A highly sought-after collaboration from 2021, the Patta x Nike partnership updated the iconic Air Max 1 with plush fabrics, eye-catching hues and accessories to match. The capsule was made up of four colourways, two of which – the Monarch and the Aqua – were crafted from supple nubuck, while the other two came dressed in smooth leather. The crowd favourite was the Nike Air Max 1 x Patta Monarch. Arriving in a burnt orange hue, complemented by clean grey panels, this sneaker nods to the OG AM1 with its exposed Air unit in the heel.
Nike Air Max 90 x DQM Bacon
1990’s most fashion-forward sneaker silhouette, the Nike Air Max 90 became an instant streetwear essential, and remains a style staple to this day. In 2021, the Nike Air Max 90 x DQM Bacon put a premium spin on the ‘90s classic with suede panels and leather Swoosh branding. Mesh panels are added to enhance breathability, while a bacon-inspired red, pink and brown colourway delivers endless wearability.
Nike Air Max 95 OG Neon
Five years after the release of the street-favourite Nike Air Max 90, the Air Max 95 landed. Offering up a chunkier design with a bigger focus on performance, the AM95 was the first Air Max sneaker to feature Air cushioning in the forefoot as well as the heel. Inspired by human anatomy, the lacing system nods to human ribs, while the mesh and suede upper represents muscle fibres. A spine-inspired outsole rounds things off, delivering a sneaker that’s specifically made for larger runners with more power. One of the first colourways to land in 1995, the Nike Air Max 95 OG Neon fuses subtle greys with highlighter yellows, delivering a sneaker that’s impossible to miss.
Nike Air Max 1/97 x Sean Wotherspoon
One of the most iconic collaborative Air Max sneakers to ever land, the Nike Air Max 1/97 x Sean Wotherspoon is an Air Max Day exclusive from 2018. Invited by Nike, 12 creatives were challenged to create a unique design and the public voted on which shoe would see release. Sean Wotherspoon stole the crown with his Air Max 97 and Air Max 1 hybrid, crafted from multi-coloured corduroy. Inspired by vintage Nike hats and windbreakers, stand-out elements of the shoe include a smiley face in the insole with “Have a Nike Day” branding, a removable, wave-adorned patch on the tongue and a miniature Swoosh on the toe.
Nike Air VaporMax Black x Off-White
Landing as part of Virgil Abloh’s “The Ten” capsule with Nike in 2018, the Nike Air VaporMax Black x Off-White was one of a series of iconic Swoosh silhouettes that were updated with instantly recognisable Off-White detailing. Released by Nike in 2016, the VaporMax sneaker uses less Air underfoot, but more efficiently. The expertly designed sole offers support where your foot needs it most, while a unique tread pattern acts like pistons to propel you forward on your run. Bridging the gap between sports and fashion, Off-White’s iteration features “AIR” lettering and extra branding on the medial sidewalls.