Nike Air Max Day is celebrated on March 26 with a design that made it one of the most iconic sneakers in history. The day is pegged to the anniversary of the first-ever Air Max model’s debut in 1987. For a second time around, Nike invited Machina to collaborate con Air Max Day.
In 1987, Nike debuted one of the most iconic sneaker silhouettes of all time, the Air Max 1. The model was designed by Nike designer Tinker Hatfield, a man responsible for some of the greatest and most popular Nike shoes; the Air Max 90, the Air Jordan 3 and Jordan 4, just to name a few. The release of the Air Max 1 saw a revolution in athletic footwear, introducing never before seen technology. Tinker’s Air Max 1 is a shoe which is now recognized in every corner of the globe but its origins began in Paris, at the Centre George Pompidou. A storied history and standout engineering have made the Nike Air Max 1 of the best vintage Nike sneakers of all time.
The first-ever Air Max model made its debut on March 26, 1987. Now the industry has designated March 26 as Nike Air Max Day – and deservedly so. This years anniversary commemorates a sneaker design that has gone on to inspire and influence nearly every make of athletic footwear of the last three decades.
Getting Ready for Air Max Day
Over the years, Air Max day has served as a staging ground for some of the Swoosh's biggest, most innovative releases, along with an opportunity to bring some of its most desired classics back onto the market. On March 26th, 2022, Nike celebrated the 35th anniversary of Air Max cushioning and the Air Max 1 by bringing back some old favorites and introducing some new ones.
Nike invited Machina to reinterpret air for one of its most important sneaker silhouettes during their Air Max Day global celebration.
How can we reinterpret air on one of Nike's most iconic sneakers of all time? That was the biggest question that we had in mind once Nike invited us to participate in the 35th anniversary celebration. We knew that we wanted to make honor taking inspiration on its origins and we wanted to protect the silhouette that has been constantly changing and adapting.
For that, we designed our personal exoskeleton for the Air Max 1. A powered armor made mostly from sustainable or upcycled materials with an on/off button to turn on the micro turbines and feel air. We designed and developed a total of three exoskeletons. Each exoskeleton was designed to organically adapt to the sneaker silhouette.
Air Max 1 Premium "Wabi Sabi" Exoskeleton _ Behind the Design
Air Max 90 Exoskeleton _ Behind the Design
Air Max 97 Exoskeleton _ Behind the Design
"MACHINA Crafts Nike Air Max 1 3D-Printed Exoskeleton That Redefines AIR Technology" - HYPEBEAST
In early 1987, Hatfield premiered the Nike Air Max 1 as a ground-breaking shoe silhouette that introduced the brand’s trademark Air technology, marketed as an essential engine for top-tier track athletes and a style statement for everyday strutters.. we firmly wanted to replicate that sensation of awe through a bold piece that not necessarily does it need to be functional, but a protection of something holy, that has survived and evolved through out history. We strongly wanted to make a statement through our daring design, inviting only the brave to use it.
We had the honor of creating a special design for the Air Max 1 and then replicating the piece with 3D printed materials to provide a workshop model — helping to further the legacy of this unparalleled piece of culture.
Air Max Day - Workshop
For Air Max Day 2022 activities, MACHINA created a special new design of the classic Air Max 1, 90 and 97. MACHINA had the honor to design and develop a 3D printed customizable piece for the Air Max 1 “Wabi - Sabi”. "WABI SABI," refers to the beauty of imperfection, and informs every part of the shoe’s outer construction. The left and right pairs feature alternate colorways , each made up of the same deep browns, creams, and disparate olives.
The topmost stitching then pops with a white finish much like the miniature swoosh embroidery, and with threading rendered in an unrefined manner. Additionally, red darning marks on the back heel create the illusion that these sneakers were hastily repaired. A second pair of the shoes feature suede overlays in a range of greens, yellows, and browns that decorate a classic white mesh base while a cracked decal strikes the midsole.
In Machina, we looked to embrace the “WABI-SABI” philosophy using some sustainable materials such as micro motors from old computers and toys, PLA a plastic substitute made from fermented plant starch (usually corn) is quickly becoming a popular alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics.
MACHINA created a workshop model that ultimately became the template for the 35th-anniversary reissue — furthering the legacy of a beloved piece of culture. Allowing people to customize it to their own taste using several materials from left over leathers, paint and aerosols.
Attendees from different backgrounds were all challenged to design something representing their own identity using our 3D printed customizable exoskeleton as a canvas. The results were astounding as some people were afraid at the very beginning to experiment with new materials. However, this workshop had a solid base on innovation and creativity. Innovation is fueled by a restless intellectual curiosity, deep optimism, the ability to accept repeated failure as the price of ultimate success. They had no time limit, they were invited to have an open mind and express themselves.
Workshop customization lasted 8 days. People left ecstatic, this is the recap of the workshop, enjoy.
Why Air Max Was Such a Gamechanger
Perhaps the most classic Nike design, Air Max has evolved to hone and perfect its design, building on the innovations introduced in 1987 while continuing to inspire new generations of sneaker enthusiasts to honor and esteem that first prototype.
You’ll recognize Air Max shoes by their translucent pouches filled with pressurized gas. These pouches, known as “air units” or the Nike Air Max pouch, are embedded in the shoe’s midsole and visible from the exterior of the sneaker. The air units support the foot with next-level cushioning that outpaces traditional foam in its efficacy while reducing the weight of the shoes.
The size, design, and the exact number of air units are different for each design within the product line. For instance, the "retro" Air Max 1 includes just one small unit under the heel, whereas the more contemporary Air VaporMax uses air units throughout the entire midsole. The shoes are wildly popular among urban subcultures and connoisseurs of retro aesthetics. They’ve certainly enjoyed enduring popularity among sneakerheads and collectors.
A Runaway Success - A MACHINA Success
With the release of Air Max 1, Hatfield launched an unprecedented revolution in athletic sneakers. The design took the world by storm, inspiring Nike to capitalize on its visibility and promote Air across the entire brand, ultimately making Air Max Running a franchise parallel to Air Jordan.
Years later, in the 2000s, the original Air Max model designed by Hatfield asserted its staying power as part of retro life. The Air Max 1 had completely crossed over to the world of lifestyle, returning in original color palettes and prompting new collaborative undertakings that continue to this day. From San Francisco skate shop HUF to Harajuku sneaker store Atmos, the Pompidou pair was still racing away from retailers. Now, as the Air Max 1 turns 35 in 2022, the seminal style is set for yet another big run by way of revived cult classics, denim redrafts, and new collaborations.
It was a great honor to be invited by Nike to reinterpret air using one of their most innovative products, the one that placed them on the map and a true object of desire for all kinds of people and generations.
]]>"MACHINA REINVENTS THE NIKE AIR MAX" - HYPEBAE
Nike Air has been a platform for creativity. Its philosophy has been adopted by artists, musicians, collectors, creative communities and culture in general worldwide.
To boost the future of the air, Nike empowers young creators to form the new path that will take us to the future of Nike ON AIR. Machina was chosen as one of the young creators to transform, ideate and promote a new way to represent AIR.
Nike has evolved their products into lifestyle icons for millions of consumers across the world and they do this by innovating through design, technology and manufacturing. Nike is not just about selling shoes or athletic apparel- it is constantly pitching a lifestyle. A lifestyle that everyone feels they need to have. How can we represent this lifestyle having AIR as a basic form of inspiration?
Smart shoes — The latest wearable phenomenon? For the people who know us, that understand our vision, our mission has ALWAYS been to have technology completely seamless, functional and intuitive. It has all been about creating wearables that are actually wearable. (If you do not know what I am talking about check out some of our products here).
That being said, how are we going to integrate our latest technology development into the latest Air Max 270 without being noticed and still be understandable to the audience that there is a performance going on, being completely controlled from a sneaker? This was our challenge.
Over the years, MACHINA has sought the best multidisciplinary talents with whom to collaborate. For this collaboration, MACHINA chose UNIK BREAKERS a group of Mexican B-Boys that started in 2007. Best known for being the first group to leave their country and represent Mexico in Europe. Many of its members have excelled in various competitions around the world such as IBE (Netherlands), Octagon World Final (Switzerland), Hip Hop International (USA), Outbreak Group (Europe), United Styles Europe (Switzerland), World Red Bull BC among others. The work of the group has led them to film several music videos, concerts and festivals with artists such as Disclosure, Nortec Collective to name a few. UNIK BREAKERS are officially our dancing performers to control lights, audio, fog and Co2; music soundtrack produced by Naked Geometry.
MACHINA amplifies NIKE’s Air Max 270 to be transformed into air controllers through dancing movements. We made this possible by integrating our latest technology development into each Air Max 270 called OBE (Out of Body Experience).
Featuring the biggest airbag in the heel , the Air Max 270 delivers a super soft silhouette that feels as impossible as it looks and for the first time it will go beyond by being able to trigger Co2 jet machines, fog, lights and alter audio all by recording bboys body gestures. Thanks to MACHINA’s technology, dancing moves will stop being a simple choreography form and become tangible effects through different applications.
How does it work?
We carefully integrated our technology into each sneaker to later be compatible via bluetooth communication chanel to our mobile application. After several days of capturing different gestures from each b-boy; the UNIK Breakers where ready to practice.
By having each sneaker paired with our mobile app, we get the possibility to manipulate MIDI & DMX communication protocols like lights, sound, fog and Co2 machines.
After UNIK Breakers created the choreography that would detonate each fog machine and Co2 we needed to practice in a replicated environment from the stage they where planning to perform in. We did a replica of what the stage would look like back at our workshop. It was crucial for B-Boys to be familiarized with the fact that for each move they made there would be a call to action around them on stage.
The MASTAX performance takes its inspiration from the MASTAX beetle, a small creature that fires toxic gases when in danger.
The performance uses MACHINA’s extension of self technology to adapt into Nike’s footwear and use it to control machinery. Using its technology, MACHINA has converted the UNIK Breaker dancers into rhythmic crawlers, who use their newly acquired mechanisms to release gas at the slightest provocation.
At dark, the UNIK Breakers, like the MASTAX beetle, gather together in moist, protected places like the inside of hollow logs and under large rocks. After eating dinner, they leave their refuge and travel together, the MASTAX beetle looking to survive , the UNIK Breakers looking to entertain using the Air Max 270 as their secret weapon.
We like our wearables to feel natural. Instead of being conscious that you are wearing a technical device, we want people to ideally feel they have an added bonus by not wearing any additional item. We believe that with this collaboration we accomplished this successfully.
Check MASTAX out!
Out of all of the brands that we have worked with so far, this has been one of our craziest and funniest projects yet. We would like to thank UNIK Breakers for believing in all of our crazy ideas for the past six years. Naked Geometry for his supreme talent and patience in creating a song that would represent this collaboration as a whole and Nike for being an every day inspiration in all aspects from design and unstoppable innovation. It has been a dream to be part of this.
On the weekend of March 24th, Nike’s Air Max Weekend will honour the game changing midsole that propelled footwear design forward. Air debuted on 1987’s Air Max 1 when the trainer became the first to showcase visible Air and since that time the revolutionary design has evolved into an instantly recognisable aesthetic.
MACHINA will give a two hour workshop with it’s current technology development OBE (Out of Body Experience) where attendees will be able to “hack” their Nike’s. Through this workshop we bring all participants a unique converge of the importance of design, balance of form and function.
The annual event is a celebration of old and new technology. Looking forward to the launch of their latest Air Max 270 in a selection of vibrant coulourways.
By: @LindaLFranco Co-Founder at Machina Wearable Technology
Machina's MIDI Controller Jacket for G-Shock VS Earth Campaign from MACHINA on Vimeo.
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