The American giant NIKE has a habit of reinterpreting its cult silhouettes to celebrate special events. Today, it honors its annual tradition (since 2000) by presenting an Air Max 1 “Puerto Rico”.
Since 1958, every 2nd Sunday of June, one of the biggest cultural celebrations in the United States takes place in New York: the “Puerto Rico Day”. This parade attracts about 3 million people every year to Manhattan. The streets are filled with colorful floats, parade bands, car shows, dance and music, and other entertainment.
After using the Air Force 1 or the Air Max 97 in the past years, Nike has reinterpreted the iconic Air Max 1 for this 2023 edition.
The cult shoe designed by Tinder Hatfield is presented to us in 2 special colorways, “Blue Gale” and “Orange Frost”. These AM1 pay tribute to the Puerto Rican Piraguas, crushed ice, which are offered in different gourmet flavors like coconut, passion fruit or pineapple.
They consist of a textile upper with leather overlays and a suede mudguard. The “Blue Gale” has a beige base enhanced by inserts in shades of blue and the “Orange Frost” has a light grey base with inserts in shades of yellow on the front of the foot and orange on the rest of the foot. To recall the Puerto Rican Piraguas, these pairs feature glossy side Jewel Swooshes and a special ice cream jar embroidery on the tongue of the right foot over the Swoosh logo. They also feature an engraved metallic ‘Puerto Rico’ dubrae and the island’s name appears embroidered on the back of the right heel. The whole is based on a white or off-white midsole, depending on the variation, and a gradient outsole of the main color.
The pair will be delivered in a special box, with 2 sets of laces, white and blue or orange.
The NIKE AIR MAX 1 “PUERTO RICO” will be released in early June 2023 at a price of $140 each, at selected retailers and on nike.com.
