- Release Date:Sat 09 Sep 23
- Brand:Nike
- Model:Air Max 1
- Style Code:FN7652-030
- Colour:Beige
Once again, Nike returns to the peninsula of Korea for design ideas surrounding the upcoming SNKRS Day 2023. Embracing the Air Max 1 ’86 for the global ‘World Make’ theme, the new storytelling toolkit works wonders on the updated icon. To many, the cultural inspiration may not seem as obvious as on the Air Jordan 1 “World Make Japan” or as it was previously titled, “Sashiko”, with the Swoosh tapping into the nation’s long history of artisanal crafts. Boasting an assortment of interesting textures and weaves, the Air Max 1 ’86 “World Make Korea” is definitely more subtle than the prior flag-themed Korea pack from 2021, making for a great conversation starter between fellow sneakerheads. If you’ve been a fan of Nike’s back catalogue of Hemp editions in the past, then this release should be one to look out for.
The majority of the upper is crafted out of two varieties of weaves, giving this iteration a hand-crafted feel that mimics the ancient tradition of creating mosi or ramie fabric looms. Forming these looms is still considered an art form in Korea today, one that is sadly becoming less commonly practised since its early origins that date back to the Gojoseon era (108 BC), with a graphic on the sock liner detailing the technique.
A sail leather mudguard wraps around the bottom of the upper, protecting the threaded panels while keeping to the traditional look of the silhouette. A white double-stitch and black piping adds another layer to this “World Make Korea” edition, a colour split also reflected via the zig-zag stitch sat underneath the tongue label. Unlike the Jordan 3 “Seoul” and Air Max 97 “Neon Seoul” versions which swap out signature Nike and Jordan branding for the Flag or “Seoul” lettering, this pair sticks to the typical “Nike Air”, letting you decide whether or not to play into the theme. Keeping it low-key are the black hits across the upper and Air unit which could very much render this a hidden gem in the eyes of Air Max heads in future years to come, certainly one worth adding to the collection.
It’s hard to decide which trainer is the best out of the current SNKRS Day lineup, so if you’re interested in this Nike Air Max 1 ’86 “World Make Korea”, then make sure to have the Nike SNKRS app downloaded in time for the drop on the 9th of September. For any further updates on the release, keep it locked to this website!
