The Air Max 90 doesn’t often find itself under the collaborative knife. It’s a classic, a staple, a design so iconic it’s practically enshrined. But occasionally, even the most revered figures need a bit of a remix. Enter: Slawn, the British-Nigerian artist injecting some serious personality into Tinker Hatfield’s brainchild. And thankfully, it appears to be ushering in a welcome trend of more Air Max 90 collaborations.

About the Slawn x Nike Air Max 90 Pack

Asphaltgold initially unearthed two intriguing colorways of the silhouette without any mention of Slawn’s involvement, but Brendan Dunne (Complex) quickly connected the dots, revealing that the artist, whose birth certificate reads Olaolu Akeredolu-Ale, was indeed the mastermind behind this wild reimagining.

For those unfamiliar, this 24-year-old creative prodigy first made waves as a teen with his brand Motherlan, a venture that even caught the discerning eye of the late, great Virgil Abloh. Thereafter, he transitioned to painting and showcasing his work on social media, culminating in a rather impressive gig at the ripe old age of 22: designing the statues and sets for the 2023 Brit Awards. Talk about a resume booster.

Slawn’s two Air Max 90s are a methodical clash of splatter paint and sculptural artistry. The front half of the pairs remain relatively untouched, a blank canvas upon which the real magic unfolds.

From the midfoot panel back, things get interesting. The Swoosh and heel are transformed with a molded and textured leather, appearing almost handcrafted, as if a master sculptor took a chisel to a perfectly good Air Max.

As a nod to Slawn’s own artistic oeuvre, the heel tab displays “Ugly Bastard”, a direct reference to one of his pieces, replacing the usual Nike Air branding. As a final flourish, the top eyelets get a metallic upgrade: silver on the black pair, gold on the sail, like precious jewels adorning a work of art.

Release Details

The Slawn x Nike Air Max 90 pack is expected to arrive in Spring 2025 through Nike brick-and-click stores and select retailers. They’ll be available in men’s sizing and priced at US$150 each.

In other news, check out the Nike Air Trainer Huarache “Sail/Khaki”. Or, you can also head to the SNKRDUNK App via the banner below and browse the latest and greatest in sneakers, streetwear, and TCG.

Follow us on:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Pinterest
• Twitter