What Makes This Shoe Great? #2 Uni Reds

A Nike silhouette that tends to go under the radar, the Air Max 1 is arguably the most important Nike release from Blue Ribbon Sport’s history. Spurring the future Air Max line of Nike shoes, this shoe and particularly the “University Red” colourway established the exposed midsole as a fashionable and practical shoe design. 

Taking design inspiration from the Pompidou Center in Paris, Tinker Hatfield’s shoe intended for the interior to be shown from the exterior. The exposed air bubble and chaotic splashing of different fabrics and shapes would become the fundamental design philosophy of most air maxes to come. More parallels to the Pompidou Center can be seen in the Uni Red colourway which has a striking semblance to one side of the architectural marvel in terms of colour palette.

With a one and a half inch sole, the Air Max 1’s were a smash hit as running technology merged with sneakers to create one masterpiece. What made the uni red colourway so fantastic was its mixture of muted and vivid colours. The plain white and grey combined with the almost infrared red to create an equally mild yet aggressive shoe. The Air Max 1 Uni Reds may look tame in comparison to future Nike styles like the Air Max Plus but during its debut, this colourway was a shoe that demanded attention. 

The use of this colour palette on future Air Max silhouettes also displays the timelessness of this colour combination. Like the “Infrareds” featured in our last blog post, the ability to use this colourway on many varying Air Maxes shows the magnificence of this palette. By mixing such a great colourway with a revolutionary design, the Air Max 1 University Reds have become one of, if not Nike’s most loved Air Max releases.

Thanks for reading and if you have a particular shoe or colourway you would like to be discussed, feel free to send us a message on our instagram!

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Cover: University Red Air Max 1 Photo via HighSnobiety

Pompidou Center via TheB1M

Anniversary Air Max 1 via Hypebeast