On March 26, 1987, the first Air Max was released, a model that would grow into one of the most influential sneakers of all time. Every year on March 26, Nike celebrates the history of the Air Max series during Air Max Day. Read more about this special day here.
The History of Nike Air Max Day
Air Max Day 2014
In 2014, the first Air Max Day was held. The introduction of this special day was celebrated with the Nike Air Max 1 'Air Max Day'. The sneaker takes inspiration from the OG 'Sports Red' colorway, which appeared in 1987, but this time, the sneaker arrived with a neon green midsole. The inside of the tongue also received a neon green colorway.
On the tongue, we also see a clear reference to Air Max Day. The numbers '3.26', printed on the label, refer to the official date of Air Max Day. The first Air Max Day was a great success and tasted like more.
Air Max Day 2015
In 2015, Nike released a completely new sneaker called the Air Max Zero. Even though the sketches of this Air Max had been made before those of the Air Max 1, the sneaker had never been released. In 2015, Nike brought to life the sketches of designer Tinker Hatfield, also the designer of the Air Max 1, and released the Nike Air Max Zero.
Nike packed big in the year 2015. Together with brands and retailers, the brand came up with events and activities that each celebrated the Air Max. In Prague you could participate in a challenge course at Footshop and in Johannesburg there were lectures about the Air Max.
Air Max Day 2016
The following year, Nike released three different HTM sneakers. The letters HTM stand for three individuals: musician Hiroshi Fujiwara, designer Tinker Hatfield, and Mark Parker, then CEO at Nike. The Air Max LD-Zero H was designed by Hiroshi Fujiwara, the Air Max 90 Ultra Superfly T by Tinker Hatfield, and Mark Parker designed the Air Max Ultra M.
The Air Max LD-Zero H had a classic upper with a large white Swoosh on it. The sole is very similar to an Air Max 2016 and has an Air unit along the entire length of the sole. Tinker Hatfield's sneaker was reminiscent of an Air Max 90 but came with a Flyknit upper.
Air Max Day 2017
In 2017, the Air Max 1 celebrated its 30th anniversary and did so in a big way. No fewer than nine sneakers dropped during Air Max Day 2017. One was the Nike Air VaporMax, a striking design with a unique outsole. The sneaker was launched at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the building that inspired Tinker Hatfield to use the visible Air unit in the Air Max 1.
That same year, Nike introduced the 'Vote Forward' competition, in which people could compete against each other with their own designs. Sean Wotherspoon won with his hybrid Air Max 1/97 design. The sneaker is easily recognizable by its corduroy upper and colorful overlays. The model effortlessly combined elements of the Air Max 1 with the Air Max 97 and is still a beloved sneaker by many.
Air Max Day 2018
In 2018, Sean Wotherspoon's Air Max 1/97 design appeared in the Nike app. Along with the release of Wotherspoon's silhouette, Nike dropped the Air Max 180 and Air Max 93. Nike introduced the Air Max 270 and the VaporMax Flyknit 2.0, both of which used advanced technologies.
In Los Angeles, the Sean Wotherspoon Air Max 1/97 was introduced with a classic Volkswagen van with the design of the Air Max 1/97 on it. The van made its way through Los Angeles with multiple copies of the sneaker in the trunk. Wotherspoon handed out free pairs to fans, causing great chaos on the streets of Los Angeles.
Another unique aspect of Air Max Day 2018, was the 'Nike On Air' competition. The initiative brought together people around the world to design a sneaker. The chosen designs would then drop the following year during Air Max Day. Colorways like the Air Max 1 'Tokyo Maze', Air Max 98 'La Mezcla', Air Max 97 'SH Kaleidoscope', Air Max 97 'Neon Seoul', Air Max 97 'London Summer of Love' and the Nike Air VaporMax Plus 'Paris Works in Progress' appeared in the 'Nike On Air' competition.
Air Max Day 2019
In 2019, the 5 'Nike: On Air' sneakers were actually scheduled, but due to unknown reasons, their release was moved to April the same year. Other than that, Air Max Day remained very quiet this year and there were no major releases or events.
Air Max Day 2020
In 2020, Nike paid tribute to the countless variations of the Air Max that paved the way for the future of Air. Think of the Air Max 90 Flyease and the Air Max Verona. We saw several special drops on Air Max Day, including the futuristic Air Max 2090, the all-time favorite Air Max 90 'Duck Camo', and a 'Metallic' Air Max 90 pack that came with silver, gold, and rose gold colorways.
Air Max Day 2021
2021 saw the launch of the virtual Air Max Day Worldwide, which allowed users to watch, listen, and experience activities around the world. We also saw the arrival of the Air Max Pre-Day, a trio of Air Vapormax EVOs, and the conclusion of the Air Max 1 'Evolution of Icons' pack with a beautifully detailed colorway. But surely the most anticipated event was the revival of the Air Max 90 'Bacon'.
Air Max Day 2022
In 2022, the Nike Air Max 1 celebrated its 35th anniversary and did so with unique releases. A special colorway of the Air Max 1 appeared in each region. Europe received Nike Air Max 1 'La Ville Lumière', in Asia the 'Premium' colorway dropped and in North America, the 'Blueprint' dropped.
Air Max Day 2023
In 2023, the Nike Air Max 1 '86 'Big Bubble' took center stage. Nike brought the original design of the iconic Air Max 1 back to market. For example, the 1987 predecessor to the official Air Max 1 had a larger Air unit than its successor. Legendary designer Tinker Hatfield was criticized for his '86 Air Max design because the visible bubble was considered too eccentric.
On March 26, 2023, the predecessor of the Air Max 1 from '87 finally appeared. The Air Max 1 '86 OG 'University Red' used the classic red and white colorway and featured an enlarged Air unit.
Air Max Day 2024
The year 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of Air Max Day. Nike is celebrating with the release of the Nike Air Max 1 '86 OG 'Royal Blue' - Air Max Day '24. The sneaker pays tribute to the Air Max 1 'Air Max Day' released in 2014 and comes with the same neon green midsole. The 2014 release appeared in the classic 'Sports Red' colorway.
The 2024 release comes in the 'Royal Blue' colorway and is all about the Air Max 1 '86 with an enlarged Air unit.
Along with the release of the Air Max 1 '86 OG 'Royal Blue,' Nike is also launching a new silhouette: the Nike Air Max DN. The sneaker uses Nike's latest Air technology which goes by the name 'Dynamic Air'. The Air Max DN uses Air units with dual tubes that provide extra cushioning.
Recently, the design already appeared in a collaboration with Supreme. Now we see several colorways of the sneaker appearing at Nike on Air Max Day 2024.
Curious about upcoming and recent releases of the Air Max? Then check out the Sneakerjagers release calendar.