NIKE AIR MAX 1 URAWA

Sneakers_

28 September 2023

Words by Community member Chris aka @marshallahsram

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi! I'm Chris, also known as @marshallahsram on the socials. I’m 33 years old, a husband and a proud father of two children. I live in Wiltshire, and I’ve been a carpenter for over 10 years. I love my job as I'm always meeting new people and my range of work varies so much, one day I’m swinging doors and the next I could be cutting a new roof on a house... that’s normally when it rains. I’ve got a big passion for sneakers with the AM1 being my main silhouette, streetwear and I like to do a bit of photography.

As a Nike Air Max 1 collector, can you tell us about your personal connection with the silhouette.

It’s one of the silhouettes that has stood the test of time, the first trainer with a visible air unit. Imagine seeing those on the shelf back in 1987... mind blown! After buying my first pair (around 2008) I wanted more and more, in so many different colourways. There is a pair for every occasion, and they still look as good on foot in 2023 as they did back in 1987. I never looked at myself as a collector, but maybe a bit of an enthusiast.

Then came a point where I would be so happy to find and buy certain rare colourways, even if they are unwearable with crumbled midsoles, and at that point I thought, maybe I do have a bit of a collection.

I don’t actually know how many pairs of Air Max 1 I own, I counted to 100 pairs a while ago but refused to count any more as even I thought that was crazy.

The 2004 Japan-exclusive Air Max 1 resembles the kits of the Urawa Dragons J League Football club. Did you pick up the OG release in 2004? What was the sentiment around it at the time?

Yes, I have the OG release from 2004. I didn’t pick them up in 2004, it was many years later when I got my hands on a pair, but with the brilliant design and materials, they were a must have. I love the intricate details on them, like the gold stitching on the tongue that represents the J league cup win and the green air unit that gives a nod to the goal keeper’s kit back then.

19 years later Nike is revisiting this initiative to piece together a sequel Air Max 1 instalment for the J league’s franchise. This pair will come with a twist once again nodding to the teams’ kit. What’s your thoughts on the upcoming Air Max 1 ‘Urawa’?

There’s been a lot of Air Max 1 releases this year, which has been amazing to see. My first impressions from seeing the ‘Urawa’ online are really good, a clean pair with great details. I love that Nike brought back a classic pair like the Urawa that is not a carbon copy of the OG.

They’ve switched it up and kept the key details, like in this re-release they have used the white kit to base the pair on but kept the gold stitching on the tongue, and then added hints of red in the eyelets and air unit.

The insole details are great and the stitching on the back to match the OG is a ‘chefs kiss’. I’m excited for them to release.

As a Nike enthusiast, what would you love to see next for the Nike brand and/or the Air Max 1 silhouette?

I love it when Nike keep it creative and push the design boundaries as far as they can, like they do with a lot of the silhouettes they have. But specifically with the Air Max 1... I would love to see more fresh new colourways, and a mix of some excellent quality materials. Maybe throw in a collaboration here and there, finished with the occasional special box (as I am a sucker for a special box). It would go down so well... Oh and bring the ‘Nike By You’ options for the Air Max 1 to the UK too haha.