From its first sighting in Paris Fashion Week 2016 to the upcoming Air Max Scorpion release, Aman Tak gives his take on the unconventional silhouette.
It’s Paris Fashion Week 2016, all eyes are gazing forward to what could be expected for Spring 2017 season. The fashion world awaits what dazzling, out-there pieces of art Comme Des Garcon is going to exhibit… the catwalk starts and then bang!
Everyone’s eyes glued to the floor of the models that are strutting out. There’s a knitted, clean, lace-less upper with a fused swoosh on the lateral side. The knitted upper however is sitting on what can be described at the time as a full-length exposed air bag. There is literally no conventional rubber midsole but a multitude of cloud like bubbles, getting compressed by the models fast paced walk. It’s like nothing that’s been seen before and looks like something straight out of Nike innovation lab.
Looks like the two long standing partners have done it again. A new collaboration is on its way. Surely this is the only brand that could carry such a forward thinking, disruptive design. In classic Comme fashion we see a white version appear and everyone from the high fashion or the street wear scene wait in anticipation for the release date. It’s a long 6-7 months until people are able to get their hands on this future grail.
In the same release year, we would go on to see Clot put his mark on the silhouette and then the legendary Virgil put his magical touch on the shoe, which was part of the ‘Ten Collection’ – a collection that many would say re-defined the scene we see today. The inline version followed with other collaborators taking on the model, Acronym and Cactus Plant Flea Market to name but a few.
The technology would find its way to other uppers, with Nike creating hybrids. We saw Vapormax Plus inspired by the TN and even the Nike Air Max 360 would make its long-waited return graced with the Vapormax technology. The model’s popularity was spread across the fashion elite, sneakerheads alike and even found its way in the North of England where it had a tribal following in cities such as Liverpool and Manchester.
Now we find ourselves in 2022. Just when we think is Nike slowing the visibility down of what we know as the traditional Vapormax, in true Nike style they bring something BIGGER, better and more brash.
Enter the Air Max Scorpion. Taking cues from its predecessor, we see a full knit upper, dual swoosh and max call out on the tongue. Turning the shoe over we see intricacies of the technology and how the air flows through the sole. Paying close attention to the fore foot of this design, you see a crescent shape, reminiscent of a scorpion’s tail and assume this is where the name was derived from.
The Nike Air Max Scorpion launches 5th October.
