New addition to the Air Max family?
Nike’s celebration of Air Max Day on March 26th not only pays homage to the Air Max line, but also looks to the future with the introduction of a new silhouette. The Air Max Pulse was introduced last year. The successor to the Pulse silhouette this year is the Air Max DN. Reggie Hunter, Nike’s chief product officer, says, “DN stands for dynamism.”
So, dynamic shoes?
The Nike Air Max DN builds on a modern style that still reflects Air Max’s long history. The design combines elements of different Air Max silhouettes. While the upper sets dynamic accents with a stippled pattern, the innovation lies in the midsole, replacing the Air Unit with four separate pods.
And what can these capsules do?
The dual pressure air unit consists of two pressure chambers, each with two tubes. The two chambers are set to higher pressure in the two rear tubes and lower pressure in the two front tubes. When moving, air passes freely between the tubes in each chamber. Thanks to the independent chamber structure, the air unit can respond to the load on the body with each step. Phylon foam surrounds the air unit for comfortable feet, while a road-ready rubber outsole wraps around the heel for traction and durability. “We wanted a shoe that created movement underfoot while still being supportive and soft,” says Katie Gomez, co-head of innovation at Nike. The result: an Air Max that looks forward to the future.
How did this happen?
Nike Air Max revolutionized the sports market. With the Air Bubble, Nike reinvented running shoe cushioning in the late 1970s. The idea of creating an air cushion came to the mind of then-space engineer Marion Franklin Rudy. In the mid-eighties, designer Tinker Hatfield developed the first Air Max, copying the design with an air bubble taken outside from the Pompidou Center in Paris, where the technology was attached to the outer façade. Hatfield’s favorite model is the Air Max 97: “My first Air Max. Finally holding it in my hands – I will always remember this moment.”
But is it still in fashion?
Hardly any other shoe has had such an impact on the sneaker market in recent decades. So yes, Air Max will probably always be in style.
Source: Frantfurter Allgemeine
I’ve been working in the entertainment industry for over 7 years, starting out as a reporter and then moving on to being a media buyer and producer. I now work as an author at the World Herald News, where I cover all things entertainment. I’m passionate about finding the latest news and trends in this field, and I love writing stories that help my readers get a better understanding of what’s going on.
