Nike Air Max 1 'City Pack': London Edition

Inspired by the city's sprawling landscape and fast-paced culture, the Nike Air Max 1 ‘London’ displays an expressive grey tone palette through an array of textural materials such as distressed leather and hairy suede to create a sophisticated aesthetic with a distinctly modern look against one of the brands most iconic silhouettes. Embellished signature Swoosh ticks and an embroidered reference to the River Thames that is comparable to the design seen on the 2005 Nike SB Dunk Low ‘London’, OG detailing and comfort-features remain on this contemporary model for an authentic look that will resonate with any dedicated Air Max fan. Released as part of a ‘City Pack’ ahead of the 2020 Air Max Day which this year falls on March 26th, the Nike Air Max 1 London has begun to build suspense for the occasion and boasts a refined character that will resonate with any British natives or those in love with the city’s rich fashion history. 

In reference to the mix of concrete and stone structures that create the base of the city, the combination of tones and fabrics selected for the Nike Air Max 1 London complement one another whilst also creating a striking patch work effect. Dense light coloured mesh has been selected for the toe vamp and above hairy, smoke grey coloured suede has been selected for the laces border which continues along either side of the foot where two Swoosh ticks have been cut from smooth valerian blue tone leather. The tips of the ticks have been cut short by a darker tone curved leather heel panel which provides a base for the memorable 3D embroidered logo design showing the famous Nike logo and a curved line referencing the River Thames. Below this, an additional layer of dark smoke grey corduroy connects the uppers to the crisp white rubber outsole which is accentuated around the heel and carries the all-important visible Air Max unit. Additional decoration includes a small embroidered Swoosh tick on the left front side of the toes, a simple circular shape just above and a woven ‘LDN’ Air Max label on the tongue.  

First introduced in March 1987 during a year of rich moments within politics, culture and music that included; Aretha Franklin becoming the first female artist to be inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the first release of compact discs from The Beatles and the premiere of Michael Jackson’s video for Bad on September 7th, the original Air Max 1 model was coloured in tones of red, white and grey. Featuring the revolutionary Air Max technology, the first Air Max 1 kick-started decades of innovation and continues to be a reference point for a multitude of modern designs.First used to enhance the cushioning and support for running footwear styles such as the Nike Waffle Racer and Nike Tailwind - two designs imagined by the iconic architect-come-footwear design Tinker Hatfield - Air Max technology was introduced during the ‘70s but it wasn’t until the late ‘80s that the technology would be visible through a clear ‘bubble’ within the heel of the Air Max 1. Inspired by the striking structure of the Pompidou library in Paris, Hatfield had the idea to show off exactly what was within the core of the shoe through a side-visibility window which at the time was considered a risk, but one that certainly paid off. 

In celebration of the design’s 27th birthday and the impact it has had throughout design history, Nike set up Air Max Day on Wednesday, March 26th 2014 as an annual commemorative month-long occasion of releases that push the boundaries of both design and performance and has seen memorable models such as the 2002 Nike Air Max 1B atmos ‘Safari’, 1990 Nike Air Max 90 ‘Infrared’, 2014 Nike Air Max Flyknit and more recently the 2019 Cactus Plant Flea Market x Nike Air VaporMax. Released prior to Air Max Day 2020, the Nike Air Max 1 London has started to build a good amount of hype for the occasion which will see the likes of a duck camo print taken from the 2013 Air Max 90 Atmos model reintroduced, a precious metal metallic pack and a futuristic Air Max 2090 inspired by electric and solar-powered vehicles. 

Continually encouraging creativity and self-expression, the Nike Air Max story is far from over and it’s clear a blend of forward thinking and more heritage inspired designs are set to surface during the year and beyond. Intertwining different cultures, nostalgia and the fashions of the future, the Air Max silhouette provides a versatile base for a multitude of variations that push Nike’s approach to design and reputation for pushing boundaries.  

The Nike Air Max 1 London will be available from 19.03.2020 at 08:00am.

[product:nike-air-max-1-shoes-smoke-grey-valerian-blue-dark-smoke-grey]

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