The history of the Air Max 90 follows a now familiar trajectory from performance product to streetwear staple. Designed by Tinker Hatfield and originally released as the Air Max 3 in 1990, the shoe became a cult classic following its reintroduction (and subsequent renaming) in the early 2000s.
In the ensuing decades, the Air Max 90 has taken many iterations along the path to footwear immortality, including coveted collaborations and clean, essential makeups. Part of the heritage is owed to an embrace in Europe, where the Air Max 90 has become synonymous with creative community across the continent and within Great Britain. The Nike BSMNT Air Max 90 City Pack is all about channeling that historic energy.
Three styles representing three cities — Glasgow, Manchester and London — have been informed by the Basement, a contemporary London-based collective connecting the city’s young creatives through inclusive online and offline platforms. Each distills its namesake’s essential character and environment.
Glasgow
Paying tribute to this rebellious, joyous, forward-thinking community, continuously evolving and defying expectations, this Air Max 90 has a base of water-resistant, deep gray materials and heavyweight ripstop. The plush leather safety orange tongue and retro-reflective Swoosh and heel tab are inspired by the iconic traffic cone placed upon the head of the Duke Of Wellington statue in Glasgow’s city center. The shoe releases October 5.
Manchester
The second BSMNT Air Max 90 release drops on October 12 and captures Manchester’s fearlessness. The shoe is wrapped in two densities of hard-wearing and water-resistant Cordura. The jewel Swoosh is the first of its kind on an Air Max 90. The webbing and pull-tab system add a level of technical functionality. The quarter panel running around the shoe is made up of black 3M, which increases visibility while maintaining the shoe’s stealthy aesthetic.
London
The final iteration BSMNT Air Max 90 launches on October 19. The shoe takes inspiration from the ever-evolving city of London and its restless, creative power. Five tones of gray in an array of premium materials create a harmonious balance that simultaneously reflects the human and architectural diversity of the city. The raw, natural midsole is finished with a clear outsole. A transparent, velcro-edged Swoosh can be augmented by a choice of four detachable Swooshes — Yellow 3M, Dark Gray Corduroy, White Patent or Pearlescent.
Each shoe will be sold exclusively at select retailers in the city it represents and on the SNEAKRS app. A donation from the project will go to Youth Futures organization, which currently provides mentorship programming to young Londoners.