Tinker Hatfield’s creation of the Nike Air Max 1 forever changed the landscape of athletic footwear. Inspired by the architectural designs of the Centre Pompidou, a famous art museum in Paris, Hatfield added a visible Air unit to the sneaker—an element that went on to define the shoe.

Having overcome questions and criticism from outsiders as well as within Nike, the Air Max 1 has become a true icon—so much so that Nike is now honoring its legacy by releasing the Nike Air Max 1 ’86 OG “Museum Masterpiece”.

The upper has been designed to resemble polished marble. To bring out this aesthetic effect, natural imperfections and subtle color variations are used.

The premium suede details on the Swoosh pair well with the marble motif. For depth, the slightly whiter shade used on the mesh and the sockliner provides such an effect.

The marble-inspired foam midsole contains an OG Big Bubble Air unit with four pillars to reference the original design from 1987. To match the midsole, there’s also a tonal outsole.

However, the main attractions are the insoles. The left insole features a label highlighting Hatfield and his role in creating the first shoe with a visible Air unit. There’s also a message on the right insole alongside the Swoosh logo that states “PLEASE DO NOT STEP ON THE ART”.

Inside, the playful spirit continues. The left insole features a museum label crediting Hatfield and highlighting the shoe’s significance as the first with visible Air. The right insole playfully warns, “Please do not step on the art,” alongside the Swoosh logo.

The marble-inspired foam midsole houses the OG Big Bubble Air unit, distinguished by its four pillars – a nod to the original 1987 design. A tonal outsole completes the masterpiece.

The Nike Air Max 1 ’86 OG “Museum Masterpiece” releases on 9 March 2024 at select retailers and online. Buying it will cost US$170.

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