The Nike Air Max 1 has a rich history as a pioneering sneaker. Designed by Tinker Hatfield and released in 1987, it was the first shoe to feature Nike’s now-iconic visible Air unit in the heel. This innovation was inspired by the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, whose inside-out architecture allowed its structural elements to be seen from the outside. Hatfield applied this concept to the Air Max, creating a window into the sole to reveal the air cushion, thus transforming how people thought about sneaker technology and comfort.
The Air Max 1 quickly transcended its original purpose as a running shoe to become a cultural icon, influencing fashion, music, and collectible sneaker culture. It has been released in countless colorways and materials and has served as the foundation for a series of subsequent Air Max sneakers, each expanding on the idea of visible air technology.
The specific "Big Bubble" variant refers to the larger Air bubble, a feature more prominent in the original 1986 prototypes but adjusted in the commercial release. The "Big Bubble" models celebrate the initial concept's more pronounced Air unit, tying back to the shoe's origins and Nike's innovative spirit. This celebration of the original design and technology reflects Nike’s ongoing commitment to both heritage and innovation in its sneaker designs.
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