Thirty years ago, Nike revolutionized the running shoe with its launch of the Air Max 1, also known as the Air Max 87. Though Air technology had been implemented in previous shoes, this was the first time the air pockets were not only enlarged, but made visible through a partially transparent sole. Tinker Hatfield's design was mindblowing, an entirely backwards approach to the design of a shoe, building Nike Cortez Mujer it from the bottom up and presenting it from the inside out.
For runners, it was one of the first shoes that offered the opportunity to make anything other than hard, flat contact with the pavement. Shoes had indeed evolved beyond the original waffle trainers and by then were offering offset heel-to-toe structure, but this was a different level of cushioning.
This is not information that is pertinent to Nike Air Max 270 Mujer most of the attendees around me, who are still mesmerized by the new shoes before them. I take some comfort in the fact that I can indeed run, and hope that I don't have to take the VaporMax on a trial sprint, as I consider the possibility of being robbed.
The Air Max 1's contribution now is not necessarily evaluated based on its importance in running history, even though it opened the doors for the stability shoes that Chris McDougall hates but the majority of the population without a perfect stride tend to rely upon. Instead, it is an iconic piece, and a monumental link between athletics and fashion.
It's not unusual for a functional piece of sporting attire to be worn in everyday life as fashion. Baseball caps and jerseys have become normalized as casual wear over the years. In terms of footwear, basketball shoes are worn casually off the court. But in terms of actual functional running shoes, it's tough to think of a shoe other than the Air Max that is still deemed cool fashion wear. If you were to wear your Mizuno Waves to the bar Nike Air Max 2016 Femme at night, it's unlikely you'd get props from anyone other than the guy who just ran 35K and is celebrating with a cider.
The Sneakeasy is indeed in the upper level of what used to be a fish market, now converted into an event space. The layout is that of an art gallery, with several of Toronto's top artists and fashion designers tasked with representing a specific historical model of the Air Max.
Bryan Espiritu, founder of Nike Air Max 95 Womens the Legends League clothing company, chooses the original Air Max. He designs a space meant to draw a parallel between the changing social and political landscape of 1987 and the avant garde construction of the shoe.
President Ronald Reagan's famous "tear down this wall" speech at Brandenburg Gate took place on June 12, and much of the space Espiritu designs is a nod to the phrase. There's a transparent wrecking ball with an Air Max 1 inside of it which has ostensibly broken the walls of his space, which are coated with political messaging.
There's even a cheeky poster that reads "One 87. By Any Means," which perhaps slipped by brand representatives.
"When it comes to day to day footwear that anyone can kind of wear, you see people today who wear running shoes or training shoes even if they don't train or run. When you look at Adidas Gazelle Dámské an Air Max 1 versus an Air Force 1, it just looks like more of a day to day shoe for your everyday average person," said Espiritu. "I see young kids wearing Air Max 1s, I see fashion people wearing Air Max 1s, and I see professionals who don't give a fuck about sports or fashion wearing Air Max 1s. Across the board, it seems to fit every style. When I think of a shoe as a designer, it seems like the most versatile canvas to start with."