Parra x Nike Air Max 1 “Friends and Family” // Nike
Welcome back, Parra! The popular Dutch Artist and Nike are set to release their newest collab July 21, known as the “Dutch” Pack. This time around, Parra has created a new design that is instantly recognizable, while boldly reimagining what the iconic Air Max 1 can look like.
When tasked with creating his newest Nike design, Parra tells Nike.com that he asked himself, “how could I do something that has not been done already?” To try and achieve his search for the avant-garde, Parra changed his creative process. “I made a drawing first and then thought, ‘How do I get a shoe to be involved in this piece?” Parra says. “Back in the day, I was thinking color blocking. I didn’t think about that this time. I just wanted to make cool work and then see how the shoe can relate to it.”
Describing the creation of the “Dutch” pack’s abstract, urban interpretations and color schemes in a HighSnobiety interview, Parra explains, “The colors are close to my usual palette and come from the initial artwork I made for this. I started with the artwork and moved on from there. At some point, I thought, ‘What if you throw a white Air Max through this drawing? What would stick to it, color- and pattern-wise?’ So it turned out to be an abstraction of an abstract landscape.”
Parra x Nike Air Max 1
In addition to creating another iconic Air Max 1, Parra also included the Zoom Spiridon in the pack. Explaining his desire to update the 1997 shoe to HighSnobiety, Parra says, “I just really like that shoe–it’s nice and narrow and pointy. It looks and feels like a ’90s tech shoe, which I love,” he further explains, “plus you don’t see it around as much as you would some other Nike silhouettes.”
Parra x Nike Zoom Spiridon
Parra x Nike Air Max 1 “Amsterdam”
Parra and Nike have been creating limited edition sneaker gold since 2005. They first teamed up to release the Parra x Nike Air Max 1 “Amsterdam” back in 2005, as part of the City Packs. The “Amsterdam” features a unique brownstone/blue reef-dark oak colorway signifying Parra’s love of burgundy, teal, and red and representing his hometown of Amsterdam, Netherlands. This extremely limited release has helped make the ‘Amsterdam’ one of the most coveted Air Max 1 models ever. Be prepared to pay at least $3,500 for a pair.
Parra x Nike Air Max 1 “Amsterdam”
Fun fact: the first samples of this collab were REJECTED by Nike. Of course, the final version is an all-time classic.
Patta x Parra x Nike Air Max 1 “Cherrywood”
Patta x Parra x Nike Air Max 1 “Cherrywood”
In 2010 Parra and Nike came back with a sequel to the legendary Amsterdam sneaker, working with the streetwear store, Patta, to create another classic Air Max coinciding with Patta’s fifth anniversary. Parra doubled down on incorporating burgundy, teal, and red while designing the shoe. The result of this Parra-designed and Patta-produced Air Max 1 is the stuff of sneaker legend. Prices for this collab have touched $5,500.
Check out StockX for all things Parra and Nike. And don’t worry if you fail to cop a pair of the new Parra x Nike Air Max 1s, we’ve got you covered.
