My choice of Airmaxes for the launch of the AirMax Verona at the Sporstcene store were the silver bullet 95s. Firstly, the backdrop for the event was amazing- Sportscene outdid themselves. You could feel the streetwear vibe that they were aiming for. The event had Elaine singing her songs from her critically acclaimed EP whilst we, the audience, were able to admire the sneakers on her feet - the AirMax Verona. The cool black, purple and green colourway is a beautiful creation and if they didn’t only come in girls’ sizes, I would’ve copped.
The Airmax Verona Launch
The Airmax Verona was Nike’s first exclusive shoe released by them for women in 1992. The Nike Verona borrows elements from the Airmax 90. The most important thing is that it was relaunched by a rising star in the music industry. Being South African, it seems like the global platform is finally noticing us and collaborating with the creatives of South Africa. Elaine’s melodic voice, as well as her cool demeanour, just tells you all about the Nike Verona and what it represents. This is a must for lady sneaker heads who are looking for a very stylish looking sneaker.
The Airmax 95
The Airmax 95s are one of the most famous chunky sneakers existing. Chunky because they are still not as small as the trainers that are now coming out and they fit more in the category of the chunky dad shoe. Nonetheless, they are one of the most comfortable shoes that I have worn. It’s amazing how Nike has developed a sneaker that provides comfort as well as stylishness. Many designers or tech developers, within sneaker development, normally get that wrong. This success can be attributed to the Airmax 95 designer, Sergio Lozano.
The back story of Sergio Lozano
Sergio Lozano was a relatively new designer at Nike often working with the Nike ACG product. He was approached by Nike in 1994 to develop a new running shoe. It was a revitalizing project as the Nike running shoe department had fallen well behind the growing basketball section of Nike and they therefore needed something new. This saw the introduction of the Airmax 95. Even 20 years after its introduction, this shoe is still popular amongst sneaker heads around the world.
What does the AirMax 95 mean to me?
I first saw the Airmax 95 when the streetwear craze hit Johannesburg in 2013 with the resurgence of Braamfontein and the emergence of many streetwear stores. The most popular Airmax at that time was the Airmax 90. Imagine the sleek design of the Airmax 90 and compare it to the bulky design of the 95. The AirMax 95 was always a sneaker that I was not too sure about. But it completely grew on me. I think it was the price that put me off. To be honest, it’s not the most affordable sneaker out there, but that’s because the technology used in it is very innovative for Nike themselves. Fast forward five years later and it’s a sneaker that is common in many sneaker heads rotations, including mine.
As many hot shoes go, the Aimax 95 has many collaborations. One of the most popular being the Atmos 95. This just goes to show that Sergio Lozanos’s vision for the 95 came to life and it is still such an important sneaker in today’s times.
Seeing all the Airmax designs on showcase at the Airmax Verona launch, I must say the Airmax 95 is still one of my favourite designs followed by the 90. Although it has lost its popularity in South Africa, I do sense a resurgence of that silhouette in South Africa.
- Joshua Dunn
Please note these pictures are not of my own
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