The Nike Air Max 1 is one of the most legendary sneakers of all time, and there aren’t many colourways as iconic as the OG “University Red” variant. Launched all the way back in 1987, the silhouette has truly stood the test of time, and remains a fan-favourite for sneakerheads even today, who will be delighted to hear that the sneaker is returning once again for Air Max Day 2023, but not as we know it . Back when Tinker Hatfield designed the AM1 in the late ‘80s, the designer’s original sketches actually differed significantly from the final product, and there were plenty of prototypes along the way.
One year before the official launch of the AM1, in 1986, a small number of production pairs hit the market that offered a slightly-different look to the later ‘87 model, although they were quickly recalled, with production halted too, due to the fact that the Air unit was so big it literally burst in cold temperatures. Now known as the Air Max 1 ‘86, or the “Big Bubble”, collectors have yearned after this mythical pair for years, and now it’s finally set to receive a public release.