With every great launch comes a BACKSTORY with more than a touch of HERITAGE; the sneaker will cross paths with someone, somewhere and their untapped cravings will be satisfied faster than you can say AIR MAX 180 ‘BERLIN’. Well, we’ll have to revise that one at a later point…
Anyway, this is exactly as above -- an article of footwear encapsulating the techno-dance scene that ensued a uniting of Germany following Berlin wall’s late-’80’s toppling, a celebration of harmony from 1990 onwards.
Coincidentally, Nike’s Air Max 180 silhouette was born in 1991 just as this neon-ridden audio landscape SWEPT a city deeply rooted within the Dutch experience. Synonymously intense luminous accents are splashed from toe to heel, leaving ample negative space for mnemonic BRUTALIST architecture themes slipping between the cracks in the form of grey tones and sharp edges.
This joint effort from both Bruce Kilgore and Tinker Hatfield ultimately REVOLUTIONISED the way we viewed visible air, it was an experiment based on ‘blow-moulding’ advances thus allowing 180 degrees of transparent air bubble exposure.
What’s your favourite sneaker backstory? Or, scrapping that which story would you like a brand to explore next?