Words by Community member @giannicafano
Tell us about your personal connection with the AM1 silhouette.
It’s by far my most collected shoe. I currently have around 23 pairs of Air Max’s. That number is dwarfed in comparison to most people’s collections, but I love every single pair I own. The first time an Air Max 1 caught my eye was online back in 2011, it was the Air Max 1 Team Red. I was 16 and was gutted I didn’t have the funds to cop. The sneaker bug has never left since.
The Air Max 1 is the shoe that started my love for sneakers, and it’s my favourite silhouette of all time.
The Air Max 1 defines what a proper sneaker is for me: classic, timeless, and disruptive.
Do you have the previous Shima Shimas?
The OG Shima Shimas – a popular item among collectors, are unfortunately not in my possession. Although I am familiar with them, having researched their history and significance in the collectibles market, I was not collecting at the time of their release in 2003. Nonetheless, I have been actively seeking out other rare items to add to my collection and am always on the lookout for new opportunities to expand my collection.
With the reinterpretation of the Air Max 1 we continue to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Shima Shima. How does it compare to the OG pair in your opinion?
There’s always a debate in the sneaker community about whether it’s a good thing that Nike makes one-to-one retros or puts a spin on them. Some people argue that the OG release should be left as it is to maintain its legendary status. Others argue that releasing one-to-one retros gives younger sneakerheads the chance to cop a grail sneaker. Personally, I would have loved to see a one-to-one rendition of the OGs, but I'm not complaining about the 2023 Shima’s either, as I think they’re fire.
The original will always be legendary – the brownish freckled sole, the different shades of brown on the upper, and the shape. It’s truly an amazing sneaker that has stood the test of time. If I had to choose, I’d go with the OG, but the 2023 rendition is also impressive in its own right.
What would you love to see next for the AM1?
Personally, I would love to see a retro release of the Atmos Viotech one-to-one; that would be amazing. It would also be great to see some new colourways. There are rumours that the Air Max 1 is going to have an exceptional year.
Everyone constantly talks about shape. Where do you stand on this?
Oh, the classic shape debate... In my opinion, the original shape will always be the best. That being said, it doesn’t bother me if a particular pair’s shape is slightly off. While I would love for the original shape to return to all pairs, I understand that it may not be that simple. Hopefully, one day it will be consistently restored!
So what AM1 has eluded you?
For me, the Atmos Elephants are the ones that got away. The OGs were released in 2007, just before my collecting days. By the time Nike retro’d them again in 2017, I was fully aware of how important they were, but I could not buy them. Even now, when I see a picture of them online or on someone’s feet in public, I want them even more. One day, I will have them in my collection.
There’s a lot of mixed feeling on the ‘Big Bubble’ coming out, which we are surprised about. Are you excited about it?
I’m extremely excited about the Big Bubble Air Max 1 release! It’s an enigma of a shoe, first released as part of the original run of pairs in 1986, and then discontinued in 1987 to make way for the classic Air Max 1 we know today. The Big Bubble or Big Window (whichever you prefer to call it) is what set the Air Max 1 in motion. They are technically the first pairs of Air Max 1s to be released, and it would be amazing to get my hands on a piece of history.
The Nike Air Max 1 ‘Shima Shima’ launches 10th of March.
Check out more from Gianni on Instagram @giannicafano
