The Nike Air Max 1 “Premium” Releases Exclusively In Asia-Pacific And Latin America On Air Max Day 2022

Over the last 35 years, the Nike Air Max 1 has emerged in styles inspired by everything from the mundane to the extraordinary. Ahead of Air Max Day 2022, Tinker Hatfield’s game-changing design has appeared in a multi-color arrangement inspired by the Japanese idea of “wabi-sabi.”

Unveiled by known choreographer Rie Hata, the upcoming sneakers indulge in a mix of premium canvas, leather and suede across their upper. Panels around the forefoot and heel alternate in color palette between the left and right shoes, though they contribute to the Air Max 1‘s muted ensemble. The asymmetrical arrangement is surely a nod to the philosophy of finding the imperfect beautiful, but it is unquestionably overshadowed by the midsole’s “cracked” detailing. Under “wabi-sabi,” damaged goods are repaired in such a way that highlights the imperfections, in order to embrace what would typically be considered ugly and defective. The cream-colored component couples with a light gum brown waffle-patterned outsole to further compliment the drab shades of green, brown and red that take over the Air Max‘s top-half. Lastly, the shoes arrive with four interchangeable labels for the tongue, and packaged in a special edition “XXXV” box to commemorate the silhouette and visible Air technologies’ 35th anniversaries.

A Nike SNKRS launch on March 26th hasn’t been confirmed by the brand, but it’s expected that the shoe arrives as part of this year’s Air Max Day festivities. In any case, enjoy official images of the pair ahead, and stay tuned for updates.

For more from under the “NIKE, Inc.” banner, check out the Air Jordan 1 Hi ‘85 “Georgetown” set to arrive stateside in April.

Images: Nike