Back in 1977, NASA engineer Frank Rudy pitched the idea of placing airbags inside shoes to co-founder of Nike Phil Knight. The sportswear giant hasn’t looked back since. The Nike Air transformed the industry and established Nike as a leading innovation company.

Nike’s Air manufacturing building has invented, reinvented and perfected Air over the last 30 years. Each employee working at the facility plays a curial role in perfecting Air technology, delivering a precise performance.

For the first time ever, Nike offer a look into their Air Manufacturing Innovation facility.

Let the lightest Air ever propel you forward. The Air Max evolution reaches its pinnacle in the Nike Air VaporMax, a silhouette in which future-facing technology meets decades of innovation and iconic design.

For 2017, Nike has paired the Air unit with a Flyknit upper that integrates precise support and further reduces the shoe’s weight. By placing the ultra lightweight upper directly on the VaporMax Air unit, a pillowy sensation and greater energy response are produced.

The promise of actually running on air without anything to stand in your way.

Reigniting the Air revolution, the Vapormax takes visible cushioning to new levels with the wearer experiencing greater flexibility than ever before.

The closest thing to running on air, the heavily cushioned silhouette arrives with Nike’s breathable Flyknit uppers and Flywire lacing; delivering stability in the lightest model yet. What began as an experiment has evolved into a release; re-imagined and retooled for the track and streets almost three decades later.

Nike Air Vapormax Flyknit “Platinum”
849558-004
PURE PLATINUM/WHITE-WOLF GREY

One of the most anticipated new Air Max releases in years, the Nike Air VaporMax . According to reports,
this 'Triple Black' colorway has quietly been added to the calendar.

The Flyknit-constructed runner is styled in all-black, with Anthracite threads providing just a bit of contrast along the toe, tongue and collar. When hit with light, the Swooshes on the quarters beam with 3M reflective detailing. The stealthy make-up is finished with a black VaporMax sole.

Nike Air VaporMax "Triple Black"
Release Date: 03/26/17
Color: Black/Black-Black

NikeLab and industrial design icon Marc Newson join forces to distill the essence of industrial craft and technology. The result is a combination of Newson’s cultured aesthetic and Nike’s future-forward technologies — FlyKnit and Air VaporMax — yielding a lightweight, uniquely elegant new sneaker.

Newson was inspired by traditional moccasin construction. His unique view point on the Air Max joins a full-grain leather chassis and Velcro strap frame to pre-molded Nike Flyknit sockliner with a striking cross-stitch. A TPU cupsole bonds the upper to the breakthrough Nike VaporMax Air unit, allowing the shoe a lightweight and responsive underfoot feel.

MARC NEWSON TALK ABOUT HIS NIKELAB AIR VAPORMAX DESIGN

Born in Sydney, industrial Designer Marc Newson began working with Nike back in 2000. “I think it’s safe to say that from the beginning we went all in and started with possibly the most ambitious collaboration we could have imagined, the Nike Zvezdochka,” Marc comments.

For almost 17 years now, Newson has maintained a strong and close relationship with the sportswear giant – “We feed off of each other’s own works.”

For Spring/Summer 2017, Nike and the designer collaborate on the NikeLab Air VaporMax. The silhouette reflects the cultural relationship between the duo and offers the latest Nike innovations. “The overwhelming emotion when you see this thing for the first time is tactile. You want to touch it and squeeze it and figure out how it works,” Newson talks of VaporMax. “It is a mesmerising thing really.”

NikeLab Air Vapormax/MN
923004-200
Vachetta Tan/Rio Teal-Black

adidas Consortium and Swiss footwear powerhouse Titolo collaborate on a fresh, icy NMD. With stores in Zurich, Bern and Basel, Titolo has looked to the region’s dramatic outdoors to create a sneaker inspired by alpine snow zones and hidden glacial phenomena.

Upon casual inspection, snowscape is a plain blanket, a vast, one-tone expanse of white. But pan out above the mountainside and patterns begin to emerge. The outermost layer of powder shifts, forming tessellations and sweeping, ever-changing corrugations on the surface. The Titolo NMD XR1 Trail reflects this landscape via a loose gauge pattern in the sneaker’s Primeknit upper and perforated leather details, while the asymmetric overlay resembles a snow coated ridge in the sunlight.

Mountainous patterns are further echoed in the textured structure of the BOOST midsole. The outsole, the only part of the shoe that is not white, summons the image of an exposed glacier. Millions of years in age, wondrous, translucent and impossible to explore beyond the surface, it is a smart and evocative source of inspiration for the rarely-seen underside of a sneaker.

Zooming in really closely on a snowscape reveals patterns, too. Rather than a mass of white, it is the conglomeration of billions of individual snowflakes. Titolo has captured this notion through immaculate attention to detail. To do so, the retailer sought influence from women’s couture, the manufacturing sector where vast amount of work and detail underpin even the smallest, most subtle elements of the final product. The result is both unique and immediately striking.

Titolo succeeds in distilling the most epic elements of nature into a stunning sneaker.

Adidas NMD_R1 Trail x Titolo
BY3055
WHITE/WHITE/CLEAR

In a new collaborative partnership, adidas Originals has joined up with renowned Japanese fashion brand and retailer United Arrows & Sons on an exclusive collection of footwear and apparel.

Known across Japan for their relaxed sartorial take on classic fashion designs, United Arrows & Sons has brought this same perspective to a capsule of iconic 3-stripes designs, working closely with up & coming typographer MIKITYPE on a text graphic which reads “United Arrows & Sons” and “adidas Originals” in Katakana.

In apparel, the label presents two colourways of the adidas track suit, pairing a classic full-zip track top with a tapered track pant, featuring MIKITYPE’s graphics integrated into each garment’s 3-stripes details and across the track top’s chest. Finishing touches include adidas trefoil branding on the left chest and thigh and MIKITYPE branding detail on the rear of each garment.

An accompanying footwear release then applies United Arrows & Sons’ understated aesthetic to one of adidas’ most coveted contemporary models, the NMD_CS1. The shoe features a full textured Primeknit construction in black, placed atop the NMD’s signature Boost tooling withEVA plug inserts.

MIKITYPE’s typography then appears on the shoe’s forefoot plug, heel straps and medial quarter, finished with a co -branded insole. The result is a striking blend of classic and contemporary style, true to the aesthetic of United Arrows & Sons and the pioneering spirit of adidasOriginals.

NMD_CS1 Details
– Black textured Primeknit upper
– White BOOSTTM midsole with black EVA plug inserts
– Gum outsole
– Co-branded heel strap, forefoot EVA insert, medial quarter and insole- Custom MIKITYPE Katakana graphic

Adidas NMD_CS1 PK x United Arrows & Sons
CG3604
CORE BLACK

TRACK SUITS UA & SONS Details
– Inspired by classic adidas track suit with modern silhouette
– Regular fit full-zip track top & tapered track pant with drawstring waist adjustment
– 100% polyester double knit jersey
– Co-branded Katakana graphic by MIKITYPE on chest/back panel and 3-stripes marks
– 2 front zip pockets for track top
– 2 front zip pockets & 2 back pockets for track pants
– United Arrows and Sons “& MIKITYPE” embroidery on back

Adidas Tracksuit x United Arrows & Sons
CF1135
BLACK

Adidas Tracksuit x United Arrows & Sons
CF1137
BURGUNDY

BAIT and Diadora expand their Made in Italy line with the N9000 "Spiaggia Rosa". Inspired by the pink sand beaches of Sardinia, Italy, the N9000 features a subtle pink hue across the nubuck underlays.

A Light grey premium suede, frames and overlays the upper, while a contrasting shadow grey pops across the shoe in Italian leather. Gold foil branding, hits the tongue, insole, and heel. An all clear particle outsole resemble the water over the sands. Leather square laces come in 3 options; Light Grey, Shadow Grey, and Light Pink. The N9000 "Spiaggia Rosa" is entirely made of premium Italian leathers and is also crafted and made in Italy.

Diadora N.9000 x BAIT “Spiaggia Rosa”
171252-75066
Grey/Light Rose/Pink

Fashion legend Riccardo Tisci channels his unmistakable aesthetic through the legendary ‘90s icon that shaped Italian footwear culture.
The updated Nike Air Max 97 gets an elevated mid-cut that draws simultaneously from Tisci’s Italian couture influences and streetstyle background. A concealed zip pocket on the tongue gives the shoe some added functionality, while a translucent milky white outsole creates a stunning contrast with the runway-inspired tumbled synthetic leather and synthetic suede underlays of the upper. To finish it off, foil accents and embossed logos update the OG tooling.

Nike Air Max 97 Mid x Riccardo Tisci
913314-001
BLACK/METALLIC GOLD-ANTHRACITE-WHITE

Back by popular demand, a Nike legend – the atmos x Air Max 1 – makes its long-awaited return. The undisputed winner of the Air Max Day 2016 Vote Back campaign, the model stays true to the OG 2007 design with striking Jade accents to the tongue, heel and patent leather Swoosh.

The meticulous colour-blocking and ever-popular print to the toe box, heel and lining are inspired by elephants in the water. One of Tinker Hatfield’s revolutionary sneaker designs, celebrate Air Max Day 2017 with this historic release.

Nike Air Max 1 Premium Retro x Atmos
908366-001
MEDIUM GREY/CLEAR JADE-BLACK-WHITE

Working on their first collaboration with Nike back in 2001, one of atmos’ most-revered collaborations was the elephant print and jade accented Air Max 1 released in 2007. Almost 10 years later, the silhouette would go on to win the Air Max Day 2016 Vote Back campaign.

Now the iconic design celebrates Air Max Day 2017 with this historic release. Tinker Hatfield’s revolutionary sneaker features colour-blocking and ever-popular print to the toe box, heel and lining inspired by elephants in the water.

After forever changing footwear in 1987 with visible Air cushioning, the Nike Air Max 1 would go on to become a collector’s dream. The decades following would birth countless icons through collaborations and rich storytelling.

These designs would gain a following of collectors that spanned the entire globe, quickly becoming “grails” in the eyes of many. They sparked a chase and the collectors followed, passionately going after each and every coveted drop.

Now as the Air Max 1 celebrates its 30th anniversary, some of the most legendary Air Max 1 designs ever released come together to create the Air Max 1 Master. From the heavily-praised atmos x Air Max 1 “Safari,” to the original red and blue editions that started it all, each staple is represented along the Air Max 1’s iconic brand. The premium leather and Swoosh detailing throughout the upper nod to some of the most coveted Air Max 1 styles of the last two decades.

Paying homage to 10 of their most iconic designs, Nike celebrates their annual Air Max Day with the release of the ‘Master’. Just in time for the 30th anniversary of the Air Max 1, there was no better model for the Swoosh to refine.

A symbol of their evolution with its visible Air bubble, the model has been reimagined and re-tooled over the years, whilst staying true to its heritage. A selection of the most coveted grails come together in the ‘Master’, featuring everything from Safari to Elephant print and OG Red and Blue suede – highlighting icons from all generations.

Nike Air Max 1 Master
910772-001
BLACK/BLACK-UNIVERSITY RED-INTL BLUE

Originally released in 1985 and designed by Tinker Hatfield , the Nike Sock Racer was way ahead of its time. The silhouette was Nike’s first real experiment with stripping back the running shoe as it was typically known.

The minimalistic model replaces a lacing system with a two buckle fastening to achieve the perfect fit with a breathable and lightweight nylon and polyester upper. The sneaker is sat upon a unit with full-length Nike Air cushioning, making it favoured by athletes at the time. A highly flexible outsole provides easy comfort, while a simple black and yellow colourway nods to the Air Sock Racer that started it all.

Nike Air Sock Racer OG QS
875837-001
BLK/BLK-TOUR YELLOW-WHITE

New York City’s KITH has rocketed to global prominence in recent years, propelling director Ronnie Fieg to streetwear superstardom. NAKED, the Copenhagen-based store, is one of Europe’s premier destination for women’s sneakers and contemporary sportswear.

Perhaps more than any other retailer, NAKED has actively supported a strong female standing in this otherwise male-dominated realm. After their stand-out collaborations with adidas Consortium last year, KITH and NAKED unite in 2017 for a real highlight release and brand new model, the NMD CS2.

Sneaker Exchange brings two retailers together and challenges them to overcome geographic and aesthetic differences. KITH and NAKED collaborated on a product that captures the essence of their enterprises.The result is the striking, ultra-contemporary NMD CS2 – a new, sock-like silhouette which abandons the conventional lacing system. It is an aesthetic that speaks to the female sneaker enthusiast and is unisex enough to be adopted by the guys as well as it is available in bigger sizes, too.

The white BOOST sole and the removal of the lacing allow for increased focus on the CS2’s vibrant and textured upper. The inspiration here is high resolution imagery of powder paints colliding and exploding, several bold hues scattering in every direction. This array has been captured in the Primeknit pattern on both models: one in predominately pink, its counterpart in shades of sandstone. The outcome: captivating views from every angle.

Three stripes run from the top of the tongue to the tip of the sneakers’ toe while the elasticated and asymmetric top-line provides fastening and contributes to the ultra-modern aesthetic. Details aside, the fact that KITH is working on a sneaker for women speaks volumes about the progression made in the female footwear sector. It equally stands as testament to the years of work that NAKED has put in and with KITH and Ronnie Fieg on board, this growth and momentum looks set to continue.

In advance of the coming Disney produced live action version of Beauty and the Beast, Asics has created a three-piece collection of themed editions of the Gel Lyte III. Inspired by the Beast, Asics takes on a brown and blue colorway in a build that layers leather, shaggy suede and velvet material. Disney and Beast branding are then placed on the heel and insole of the men’s sized sneaker.

Two colorways have been produced with the Beauty theme. One takes on a blend of birch and tan in a leather and rose print suede build. The design features rose and Disney branding on the heel with “Beauty and the Beast” on the translucent outsole. The second pair is dressed in white with a leather build that also features a rose patterned underlay with a red rose on the heel.

The collection is set to drop this weekend in limited numbers. Barcelona based limitEDitions will have the sneakers on the 10th of March, the exclusive stockist for Iberia.

In 1987, the Air Max 1 changed the world of footwear forever. Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the icon made the invisible, visible with the arrival of visible Air Max cushioning. Over the years the design was upgraded and slightly altered to elevate comfort while meeting the needs of everyday casual wear.

As the changes and upgrades continued, Air Max connoisseurs across the globe began to yearn for the “golden era” shape that took over the late ‘90s and early 2000s. As it became time to decide how to celebrate the Air Max 1’s 30th anniversary in fitting fashion, the Nike Sportswear Footwear design team was determined to get back to that silhouette that everyone loved.

After plenty of internal back and forth conversation, and with insight from the sneaker community, the team decided on the 2004 “Urawa” Air Max 1 as the perfect reference for the shape and silhouette. It was clear the 2004 release had the ideal stance, toe shape and heel bump. These three elements would be the focus for the design team, as the entire project became an exercise of millimetres to ensure each was at their best.

Keeping the originator in mind, the team was meticulous about the details and include several nods to the debut 1987 Air Max. From the toe box mesh to the three-piece tongue and flat laces, the Air Max 1 recraft includes several details not seen since the release of the Air Max that started it all three decades ago.

Now completed and prepared for the world, the entire recraft project proved to be a challenging and rewarding journey fueled by one thing; the voice of the people.

Originally released in 1987, the Air Max 1 introduced the world to visible Nike Air cushioning. The Tinker Hatfield design was first released in these iconic colorway, classic white, red and grey . The icon returns with its coveted shape.

The sneaker that defines what it means to be a true classic, Nike celebrate the 30th Anniversary of their legendary Air Max 1 through a re-release of their original colourway in honour of Air Max Day.

This Tinker Hatfield design comprises faux suede uppers with breathable mesh underlays, a Phylon midsole and the brand’s iconic Visible Air Sole unit giving a nod to the heritage of this contemporary iteration.

Nike Air Max 1 Anniversary
908375-100
WHITE/UNIVERSITY RED-NEUTRAL GREY-BLACK

ASICS Tiger and Slam Jam team up again for a new collaboration in restyling the iconic GEL-MAI. The GEL-MAI was first released back in the late-90s and featured a head-turning construction that completely ditched the iconic ASICS Stripes for a one-piece futuristic upper.

With this new collaboration Slam Jam has worked on two color combinations, two different geometrical patterns: black and blue, green and violet. The Green Violet one is a Slam Jam exclusive, while the black and blue version will only be sold at specific retailers.

The Slam Jam X Asics Tiger GEL-MAI “ANGLE” will be available this Saturday, 4th of March at limitEDitions.

Since opening its first store in 2006, Louisiana-based store Sneaker Politics has played a pivotal role in putting the Pelican State on the sneaker map.

This month, to commemorate both the opening of their new store in New Orleans and the festivities that will take place across the city, adidas Consortium and Sneaker Politics present a Mardi Gras-inspired Gazelle PK.

Sneaker Politics New Orleans opens its doors during the city’s busiest month. For a fortnight in February, over one million visitors will join locals to celebrate Mardi Gras: a vibrant carnival to mark the beginning of Lent.

Given that New Orleans is among the world’s most colourful cities, it was guaranteed that this model was going to be bold, but thanks to Sneaker Politics it also comes accompanied with a history lesson. In 1892 The King of Carnival, leader of one of the oldest and influential Mardi Gras organization’s today, declared the krewe’s colours: purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. On the Gazelle these colours are combined to form a distinct pattern in its Primeknit upper.

Central to Mardi Gras tradition is the baking and eating of the King Cake, a large, round cake topped purple, green, gold and white frosting.Together these are the constituent colours. But the King Cake also serves as the inspiration behind the material-based decisions; the inclusion of the gum sole is not purely practical – stains are less obvious than on white – but also a humorous nod to the dough of the brioche itself.

In their first collaboration with adidas, Sneaker Politics has come up with a stylish, a royal shoe based on a strong backstory. It pays homage to Mardi Gras’ past and present, but it is also a model versatile enough to be worn in all circumstances. The Gazelle is having a real moment and this Primeknit version will be a hit with sneaker enthusiasts seeking both a strong degree of heritage and modern technological innovation.

Now with that said: “Laissez les bons temps rouler – let the good times roll!”

For SS17, adidas Originals is reuniting with Japan’s White Mountaineering and Yosuke Aizawa to create a sophisticated and premium collection celebrating style, creativity and innovation. The collection showcases White Mountaineering’s technical and modern design interpretations, attention to detail, and unparalleled knowledge of utilitarian product, along with adidas Originals’ rich heritage and iconic three stripes.SS17 will also mark the introduction of new footwear styles with this, the second drop, including EQT Support Future and NMD R2’s.

Inspired by the Urban Nomad identity, ‘Urban Mobility’ remains at the core of this reimagined collection, and helps introduce the White Mountaineering collaboration of pinnacle footwear styles as an extension to apparel. For the second drop we see the NMD R2 and EQT Support Future, all featur signature design details, including reflective three stripes, technical materials and Boost. The addition of these distinctive footwear styles, this creative pairing cements the two brands’ commitment to innovative, contemporary streetwear.

Adidas EQT Support Future x White Mountaineering
BB3127
COLLEGIATE NAVY/CORE BLACK/FTWR WHITE

Adidas NMD_R2 Primeknit x White Mountaineering
BB2978
CORE BLACK/FTWR WHITE/FTWR WHITE