The Creation of the Air Max 1

Air Max Day 2022

This year’s designated Air Max Day holiday on March 26 marks the 35th anniversary of the revolutionary Air Max 1 sneaker. As the only official holiday celebrated by a brand for a sneaker, this moment shows how the Air Max 1 sits between all facets of entertainment while continuing to identify moments in culture while keeping its technology relevant. As a pillar in sneaker culture, the Air Max 1 marks the first of its ever-growing descendants to hit the market. Air Max Day allows us to share how the concept and idea of the Air Max 1 came to be, and how it continues to establish itself as one of the most iconic and notable sneaker models to exist.

When the late ‘80s arrived, the world was at its peak in entertainment and culture. Nike was attempting to craft a sneaker that embodied striking characteristics that they would soon need, as the experimental nature of the ‘90s was at the forefront of pop culture. Around this time, the freshly-graduated University of Oregon architecture student Tinker Hatfield was hired as a corporate architect to assist in designing buildings on Nike’s Beaverton, Oregon campus. For years later, Hatfield was then tasked with creating footwear. His success came quickly, and the former architecture student’s background combined with designing sneakers proved to be an unconventional skill that soon benefited the young designer. It didn’t take long for Hatfield to spread his rebellious spirit into the brand, and since Nike needed something different, the concept of the Air Max 1 was soon created.

Although at that moment in time Air technology wasn’t necessarily new, former NASA aeronautical engineer Frank Rudy’s invention was first implemented with the Nike Air Tailwind in 1978. What we now know as an Airbag, this new Air technology replaced the traditional molded EVA soles with gas-filled urethane pouches. As soon as Hatfield joined the Nike sneaker design team, he was quickly tasked with continuing to move forward with this revolutionary technology in a striking sneaker. What was different about Hatfield’s idea for the Air Max 1 is that initially, Air technology was only meant to be felt, not seen. That was at least at the case up until Hatfield got his hands on it. After a fateful trip to Paris, Tinker Hatfield was inspired by the controversial building, the Centre Goerges Pompidou. After seeing its distinct construction, his architectural sense was (quite literally) flipped inside out, as the building’s design took all of its functional and structural elements and placed them boldly in front of the world at its exterior. Built in the ‘70s, the building’s highly-technological architecture showcased glass skin underneath.

To this day, Hatfield believes that if he hadn't seen this building, he might never have come up with the idea for the Air Max 1. By the late ‘80s, Nike wanted to develop their new and revolutionary Air technology further, and they thought that meant to expand the Air bubble used in their sneakers. Hatfield discovered that it would be impossible to raise the Air bubble without exposing it. He decided that the Air technology should be front and center, and he even cut holes in the side of the midsole so that the Airbag could flex by furthering itself out while remaining intact at the middle of the midsole. The idea of turning a shoe inside out intrigued Hatfield, but the idea turned into reality on March 26, 1987. Although the shoe’s aesthetic was initially met with skepticism, Nike's Air Max 1 turned into a massive success point. They increased their use of sneaker technology and pointed them in the right direction of the brand moving forward.

What was introduced as a revolutionary running sneaker with its signature Airbag was such an incredible moment in sneaker culture that it quickly gained a cult following, which has continued over the years. Its monumental success was just the beginning of Nike’s vast sneaker repertoire and is said to be a sneaker pivotal to its technological reputation’s success. For 35 years, The Nike Air Max has been documented in countless colorways and collaborations. Although the revolutionary sneaker’s initial controversy has since passed, the revolutionary sneaker continues to pave the way for Nike’s future endeavors with the rest of the Air Max line and their future technological efforts. Its notable reputation is what began Nike Air Max Day in 2014. Since then, each year has introduced new variations of classic Air Max models and iterations that emphasize the iconic sneaker’s aesthetics and rich heritage.