Since the release of the Nike Air Max 1 in 1987, this sneaker line has become a global phenomenon, beloved by general release fans and sneakerheads alike. Over the last 33 years, the Air Max has evolved into multiple silhouettes, a kaleidoscope of colorways, undergone material and tech tweaks, and innumerable collabs.
To celebrate Air Max Day 2020, we talked with some of the biggest designers, influencers, and sneakerheads across the world. Check out the interviews below to see what the Air Max has meant to people across the globe.
Jeff Staple
No real introduction is needed for one of the certified OGs in fashion and culture. Since 1997, Staple has been designing and producing the items that shape global sneaker and streetwear culture.
“Jesse Leyva from Nike called me one day and he wanted to work with us on a project that would incorporate the new laser technology on something more mainstream. Previous to that, laser projects were very limited. The Navigation Pack would be the first laser project that was made in larger units.”
Read the full interview here.
Mr. Foamer Simpson
Mr. Foamer Simpson is a sneaker expert and influencer who has amassed a huge following with the creative content he offers with his brother Young Buckets from their Florida based workshop. They also own and operate their clothing brand Uncivilized that routinely drops culturally inspired hoodies and tees.
Here’s what he had to say about the Air Max 90 collab he considers the best, to date:
“The DQM x Nike Air Max 90 Bacon is my favorite Air Max 90 collab to date, and nothing else even comes close, to be honest. Few things are more New York than the bacon egg and cheese. Every bodega. Every borough. From the hustlers to the wolves on Wall Street — it’s part of NYC’s lifeblood. Dave Ortiz took that bacon and turned it into a masterpiece. The color blocking. The materials. I love it all. It’s also a sneaker I’ve been chasing essentially since it originally released back in 2005. Perfection in footwear form.”
Dave Ortiz
Dave Ortiz is foundational to New York streetwear, fashion, and sneaker culture. He’s been involved with or created things from Zoo York, Dave’s Wearhouse, and Dave’s Quality Meat (DQM), among other projects. Most importantly, for Air Max Day, Ortiz and his DQM brand created arguably the best Air Max 90 collab of all time, the DQM x AM90 “Bacon.”
“I think it’s great and I am proud of the “Bacon” sneaker. I am a person who very much lives in the moment. I am confident in my creative instincts. But the idea that, to this day people get excited about, talk about, and collect something I made 18 years ago is humbling to me. When I made them, I didn’t know what to expect.”
Read the full interview here.
SOSHI
Over the last half dozen years, SOSHI has been holding court on YouTube proclaiming the best of best in sneakers, fashion, and travel. You can catch up with his latest videos on his widely popular Youtube channel, SOSHI-NET.
“I also like the Air Max 95 Neon. I played baseball and I became a big fan of Ichiro Suzuki and I saw him wear the Air Max 95 Neon in a TV commercial when the shoe originally released in ‘95. I was only six or so back then and I didn’t really know the name of the shoe, but I really liked the commercial.”
Read the full interview here.
Magdi Fernandes
One of the go-to sources of knowledge in the global sneaker community, UK based collector Magdi Fernandes has generated a growing following through documenting his expansive collection via his nostalgia-filled Instagram page, @Archive.DNA.
“My first memory of Air Max was in London in 1992 when my older brother and I saw the Air 180 for the first time in a sports shop. Our minds were blown! Eventually, I started playing basketball and Air Max Uptempos, Chris Webbers (Air Max CW), Air Max CB34 and shoes like that were everything.”
Read the full interview here.
Stevey Ryder
A true OG, Stevey Rider, aka Mr. Air Max 1, has been representing Air Maxes from the beginning. When talking about all things in the UK Sneaker collector scene, he’s the “Final Boss.” Check out his Instagram to find out what Nike’s official “Master of Air” is rocking.
“Air Max culture, for me, started here in the UK. I remember my school days in the late 80s, Nike had just dropped some of the dopest looking kicks on the market. As a kid, you see these kicks, and you just had to have them. I remember it was uniform to wear Air Max.”
Read the full interview here.
Be sure and check out our in-depth analysis of the past 12 months of global Air Max activity, Nike Air Max By The Numbers.
