"The 'Air Max' line is, without a doubt, a pivotal part of Nike's many sneakers. Starting in 2014, Nike will also commemorate and celebrate 'Air Max Day' on March 26 every year. The Air Max 1 is celebrated on March 26, 1987, the day it was born.
▲Image from: Sepwalk
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the 'Air Max 1', 'Air Max Day' returns on March 26, 2022. Nike released three new colorways on the day - Wabi-Sabi , La Ville-Lumière and Blueprint.
▲Image from: Nike
Color-coordinated in a Wabi-Sabi style, the name of this new shoe is "Nike Air Max 1 Premium", Wabi-Sabi means "wabi-sabi" and one of the cores of this traditional Japanese aesthetic is imperfection. So on the design of the upper, you can see the patched pattern and the somewhat curved Nike logo.
▲Image from: Nike
In addition to the style and design ingenuity, Nike has actually added a little extra 'something' to this new shoe.
▲Image from: MACHINA
The exoskeleton, made from PLA material and 3D printed, resembles a claw "gripping" the shoe in the front and an ankle strap extending from the Nike logo in the back, both of which are connected by a plate underneath that holds the entire structure to the shoe with the help of bolts.
▲Image from: MACHINA
In addition to its eye-catching appearance, this exoskeleton is equally unique in its functionality. Located on top of the upper, there are two miniature turbines on top, powered by micro motors. When you put on the "Air Max 1" with the exoskeleton, you can feel the airflow around the shoe and foot by pressing the button on the side.
▲Image from: MACHINA
In fact, this isn't the first time Nike and MACHINA have "done something" with the "Air Max".
For 2018, MACHINA has integrated OBE (Out of Body Experience) technology into the 'Air Max 270', using a combination of wearable controllers and sensors to turn the air cushion at the heel of the 'Air Max 270' into a controller that triggers a dry ice blaster as well as lights.
▲Image from: MACHINA
In the performance of the Mexican B-Boys group UNIK BREAKERS, the performers wearing the special "Air Max 270" by MACHINA on their feet danced while controlling the change of lights and the appearance of dry ice in the performance space with their feet through these dance movements.
▲Image from: MACHINA
For its part, MACHINA says it wants to reinterpret 'Air' through sustainability and innovation, going back to what inspired Tinker Hatfield, the designer of the 'Air Max 1', in the first place. This exoskeleton for the "Air Max 1 Wabi-Sabi" does just that.
▲Image from: MACHINA
Originally, the "Air" in Nike's "Air Max" referred to Nike's famous air-cushioned air cushion. But in the "Air Max 1 Wabi-Sabi", MACHINA brings a new "Air" to the shoe through the air delivered by the turbine on the exoskeleton, and breathes new life into Nike's "Air".