In the late seventies Nike introduced a revolutionary refinement to the running shoe: the first Air-Sole units. 1979 saw the introduction of Nike’s Tailwind, and the first “Air” shoe was born. The objective of the Air Max collection was to create top of the line comfort by incorporating Air-Sole units and finding new ways to stretch Air innovation over the years. When, in 1987, the visible Air-Sole of the Air Max was introduced (by Nike design mastermind Tinker Hatfield), the genius of the technology became apparent to everyone. Runners could actually see the system at work. From there, Air Max began evolving and never stopped. Runners heralded Nike Air cushioning as a revolution when it arrived in 1987—and three years later, when the second iteration of the shoe appeared, it became known to everyone. It might have been the visible Air unit in the midsole that brought Air Max to light, but the unrivaled comfort and inspired colorways of Air Max 90 undoubtedly catapulted the shoe to icon status. For Nike Sportswear, they started with the original Air Max platform, but increased the interior padding and ankle molding. With newly skived edges, unexpected upper materials and the reintroduction of the famed “Infrared” colorway, the new Air Max 90s are a quintessential blend of Nike’s past, present and future.
Nike reinvents the Air Max 90 by adding the Free Sole to it, as well as other aspects of the Nike Free. Something to be looking out for later this year.
