Community Curated #4 - @liambaileey

The Nike Air Max 1 is a remarkable silhouette from the Swoosh brand that has played a significant role in shaping the footwear industry to what it is today. It was the first trainers from Nike to reveal the label's famous Air technology by way of a visible Air pod towards the rear of the midsole unit.

The Air Max 1 possesses countless of colourways and Brighton-based sneakerhead Liam Bailey is one of The Sole Supplier's long-term members who continue to share his love for the model. So for the fourth part of our Community Curated series, we sat down with Mr Bailey to find out more about his collection!

Hi, I’m Liam!, @liambaileey on IG. I have been into trainers since 2014 after I got my first job. I started heavily with ASICS, mainly the GEL-LYTE 3 and GEL-LYTE V, and transitioned into Nike Air Max 1s in 2016. I got into sneakers after seeing how cool some of the colourways can be and all the variations of silhouettes.

The main reason I love the Nike AM1 is just how comfortable I find them. A shoe that looks great on foot and being comfortable is a pair that can’t be ignored. The model's history is also incredibly important, and there are a few shoes with such a vast and groundbreaking background. From collaboration pairs to general releases, all Air Max 1 colourways are staples to me. My favourite colourway has to be the Nike Air Max 1 "Atmos Elephant" colourway from 2007. No pair will ever come close to it. The elephant print is iconic. It was first seen on the Jordan 3 that is also designed by Tinker Hatfield. So, it has some symmetry with the Air Max 1. My love for the Air Max 1 is also shared with a few like-minded friends, so we have created @am1ent over on IG, a place to showcase how great the shoe is and its rich history.

My first pair is the CLOT x Nike Air Max 1 “Kiss of Death”. The story behind them is unique within itself, based on Chinese acupuncture. I love how the colours are used to complement each other, and you can further add that with whatever socks you want to wear. I personally wear olive green socks.

My second pick up is the Patta x Nike Air Max 1 “Monarch”. I think the wave concept is awesome. Patta really smashed this pair out the park. The way they have changed the mudguard is something that’s never been seen before and it will be interesting to see if any other brands take inspiration with the idea. It’s great to see a collaboration pair use premium materials and gives it a reason to being limited.

My last purchase would be have to be the Nike Air Max 1 “Amsterdam” from the "City Pack" that dropped in 2020. Amsterdam is a city I’ve been to a couple times and I fell in love with it so it would only be right to own a shoe that’s dedicated to such a beautiful place. The materials are awesome, incorporating suede, cord, and leather, as well as little details like the three crosses on the tongue and mudguard. This is a pair that will become a future classic.

Meeting and making friends is what I love about The Sole Supplier Community. I’ve met some wonderful people through it, and have created our own ‘bubble’ and we plan to meet up whenever we can.