The Golden Years: Three Late '80s Swoosh Silhouettes We'll Never Forget

There’s been plenty of great sneaker designs in recent years, however it’s common knowledge that most of the classics we know and love today were born during the “golden era” of sneaker design at Nike. The late 1980s were a particularly memorable time due to the fact that technology was advancing at a rapid rate, allowing designers to explore previously uncharted territories and push new sneakers to their absolute limit.

There’s also the fact that designers such as Bruce Kilgore, Tinker Hatfield and Peter Moore were all working at the Swoosh, putting together some of the greatest projects the world has seen to date. Join us here at The Sole Supplier as we take a look at some currently-available sneakers that were created during this historical period of sneaker design.

Introduced to the market in 1987, the Air Max 1 was the brainchild of Tinker Hatfield, and was the first ever sneaker to feature visible Air technology in the midsole. Showcasing the perfect blend of retro flair and sleek modernity, the AM1 paved the way for many memorable Air Max designs that would come after it. Playing host to plenty of collaborations over the years, the likes of Patta, atmos and CLOT have all used the AM1 as the blank canvas for limited-edition sneaker releases.

Next up is another undeniable footwear great - the Air Jordan 3. Also designed by Hatfield, this pair was arguably the sneaker that saved Jordan Brand, as Michael Jordan was reportedly being swayed by offers from other brands at the time. Hitting the scene in 1988, the AJ3 featured the now-iconic elephant print graphic and doesn’t even feature a Swoosh logo (although early sketches depicted one, with this prototype later seeing a limited-run launch).

On the topic of Jordan Brand, it’s hard not to ignore the cultural impact that the Air Jordan 1 has had ever since its introduction in 1985. Designed by Peter Moore as MJ’s first-ever signature sneaker, the model is still immensely popular today and is one of the easiest Jordan silhouettes to work into everyday outfits. Also available in mid and low-top variants, every sneakerhead should own at least one pair of AJ1s.