"What is the most iconic sneaker of all time? The shoes that often enter the conversation are usually ones that resonate with people beyond their intended audience. Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars and Adidas Superstars were designed for basketball players, but became icons through the Ramones and Run-D.M.C. Onitsuka Tigers were for runners, but Bruce Lee found them ideal for practicing kung fu. (He wore a yellow pair in his final film, Game of Death.)"
"In 1987, Nike and architect-turned-sneaker-legend Tinker Hatfield released the Air Max 1, a game-changer for the industry. Inspired by the design of the Centre Pompidou in Pariswhich transformed traditionally internal components like pipes and escalators into an external facadethe shoe was made to sell consumers on Nike's "Air" technology and featured a big, visible Air bag in the midsole. The Air Max 1 was big; it created the Air Max line, and for that, it is a legend."
"But after a second iteration (dubbed the Air Max II), Nike unleashed a third Air Max that I believe outdid the original and everything else since. The Air Max 90 is an icon, and 35 years later, it looks as fresh as ever. It has to fight for attention against every other model of Air Max that's ever been released, but it's the one sneaker you'll catch me rocking every week."
Certain sneakers transcend their athletic origins to become broader cultural icons. Basketball models like Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars and Adidas Superstars gained fame through musicians, while Onitsuka Tigers became associated with Bruce Lee. In 1987 Nike and Tinker Hatfield introduced the Air Max 1, showcasing visible Air technology inspired by the Centre Pompidou and launching the Air Max line. A later design, the Air Max 90, is widely regarded as a superior, enduring icon. The Air Max 90 maintained relevance across decades and found enthusiastic adoption among UK rave and house-music scenes in the early 1990s.
Read at www.esquire.com
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