Thirty years strong, the Nike Air Max family gets better generation after generation. Air bags have seen many shapes, sizes and iterations. Uppers have been dressed in leather, canvas, suede, Hyperfuse, tape, Vac-tec and Engineered Mesh, updating each classic with modern technology to fulfill contemporary needs. Now Nike Sportswear introduces the Nike Air Max Breathe Collection, designed to keep your feet free from the oppressive summer heat.
Drawing insight from the on-the-go Brasilian lifestyle in which one might find themselves on the beach one minute and pounding pavement the next, the Air Max Breathe collection deconstructs iconic silhouettes, transforming classic sneakers into ultra-breathable, lightweight shoes. To produce the most breathable Air Max models to date, the shoes have been stripped to their core essentials—layers of reinforcement removed and heavy materials jettisoned. Spacer mesh is used to create pockets of space between the upper materials to allow for increased airflow.
The pack innovations include taped seams, moisture-wicking linings, open-mesh uppers, elastic laces, soft heel counters, and natural motion tooling, combining to deliver iconic silhouettes true to their roots and built for summer. Contoured for comfort, the Nike Air Max Breathe Collection modernizes the summer wardrobe by making more with less.
AIR MAX LIGHT BREATHE
The Air Max Light, a lighter option for fans of the Air Max 1, was designed with a combination phylon/polyurethane midsole to minimize weight. Rarely making its way out of Nike archives, the Air Max Light returns updated for summer wear through a less-is-more design philosophy. Building on the Air Max Light’s original design ideology of reducing weight, unnecessary layers are stripped from the upper construction and replaced with near-seamless open mesh. To keep the shape of the Air Max Light intact, designers employed an innovative perforated foam layer in the rand to create a structure that maximizes ventilation without adding weight.
AIR MAX 90 BREATHE
Natural motion tooling adds a flexible forefoot to the traditional AM90 Air unit in the Air Max 90 Breathe for seamless movement. An open-mesh, no-sew upper reduces weight and promotes breathability, while a new soft heel counter and elastic lacing system allow for easy on-and-off wear.
AIR MAX 1 BREATHE
By removing the traditional leather, suede or synthetic toe overlay, the Air Max 1 Breathe sheds weight and improves breathability. A dynamic fit tongue ensures the foot stays secure and moves with the body, while an updated phylon tooling makes the sole ultra-light and super comfortable.
The Air Max Breathe Collection will be available on Nike.com and at Nike Sportswear retailers beginning May 1.
Source: Nike, Inc.
