On the occasion of Air Max Day 2021, we decided to delve into one of Nike ‘s projects that has best managed to photograph the various facets of street culture, as well as give us silhouettes that are hard to forget, the collaboration with Skepta.
Originally released in 2017 and in various editions in the following years, the Nike Air Max “Skepta” represents one of the most iconic collaborations ever between a celebrity and a brand.
Joseph Junior Adenuga, known professionally as Skepta, was born 19 September 1982 in Tottenham, North London. He is a British-Nigerian rapper, songwriter and producer, whose taste for both music and fashion has led to create some of the most iconic collaborations of the last lustrum.
With the advent of his global influence on the genre, Skepta has started partnering with Nike Sportswear to bring his own journey of shoe collecting to life through a unique collaboration.
AIR MAX 97 ULTRA ’17
To launch the Air Max 97 Ultra in September 2017 and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Christian Tresser’s iconic design, Skepta and Nike transformed an underground space in London into an expansive themed night inspired by Moroccan souks.
The Londoner rapper designed his Nike Air Max 97 Ultra 17 with Morocco in mind, using 1999’s Nike Air Tuned Max as further inspiration, adding the silhouette signature iridescent hits throughout the 97s composition.
Other than that, the link with these tones is way deeper, in fact he said that the Tuned Max was the first shoe he ever saved up money to buy and wanted to translate that nostalgia over to his collaborative creation.
What resulted was a brand new rendition of the Air Max 97 featuring a polyurethane-coated copper, with rose gold leather hints paired with a black mesh and an updated welded Swoosh logo instead of the usually embroidered insignia.
Starting from top, the shoe showcases a rose gold and Vivid Sulfur upper inspired by Skepta’s travels to Morocco.
Braided embroidery appears down the heels and tongues pull-loops As a nod to the sportswear style in Morocco, with SK Air branding giving the input to the collaboration.
Furthermore, Moroccan patterns are incorporated as additional detailing on the upper, tongue and insoles, while a special “Sk” logo in the shape of UK electrical outlets pay respect to the Air Max TN branding.
At the end, a strong yellow coloring makes its way to the inside of the visible Air Max Unit along with a classic black rubber outsole supporting the whole structure.
AIR MAX 97/BW
A year later, the London-born artist decided to take over two legendary Tinker Hatfield designs and make a hybrid. Following the theme of connected culture, this time drawing on his relationship to Paris (which was one of the first places he broke outside the UK) by bridging a gap between Paris and London.
Linked by train, the two cities stand among Europe’s style capitals (not to mention being actual capitals) and the Nike Air Max 97/BW SK ties them together through the tricolor reference but more deeply honors the Nike Air Max BW’s cultural cache in both places.
Skepta in particular has a close relationship with the French capital and its street culture, which is why the colors of the French national flag grace the upper.
Another reason why he wanted to work with these two silhouettes was Dizzee Rascal, as he wore a pair of AM BW in his first album cover ‘Boy in da Corner’.
Mismatching color accents of red and blue spice up both the Air-Units and Swooshes, while speckled laces, a partly perforated tongue and “SK Air”-branded insoles add some more vivacity to the look.
At the end, an exciting detail to note is the pierced mesh tongue spotting iris-inspired holes, nodding to France’s national flower.
AIR MAX DELUXE
Designed in two different iterations but released to the public only in the black one, the Nike Air Max Deluxe by Skepta pays tribute to New York’s role in his career trajectory as an artist and rapper.
After the release of his breakout single “That’s Not Me” in June 8th, 2014, NYC became a crucial jump-off point in Skepta’s push to propel the grime music genre from local London sound to global phenomenon.
This Nike Air Max Deluxe SK encapsulates his relationship to the city where he is embraced with open arms in the five boroughs by fans, friends and family.
This shoe’s reinterpretation of the iconic 1999 Nike Air Max Deluxe features details inspired by the insomnia of long nights on the road. The medial side of the shoe reads “NEVER SLEEP ON TOUR”, an ethos that has fueled Skepta’s work rate.
The upper pattern, mainly black characterized by white hits throughout its composition, draws from the VHS static-led aesthetic found in the award-winning video for “That’s Not Me”, while a final nod to the single is the release date printed on the shoe’s lateral side.
Moreover, TPU Overlays, lacing supports and collar cushioning add more comfort to the on feet experience, whereas 3M reflective details, a chromed tongue, Sk-Air branding and an embroidered Swoosh on the toe-box finish the upper off.
The whole design is eventually completed by Skepta-infused Air cushioning, full-Length visible Air-Unit, black foam midsole and thin rubber outsole.
AIR MAX TAILWIND V
Set to be released in 2021, Skepta’s 5th collaboration with Nike is a striking mix between the original Air Max Tailwind 5 and the Tailwind 5 Plus, both being from 1999 and 2000.
In addition to the technical features, it also implements designs and motifs from each model blended with Skepta’s signature ‘SK Air’ branding.
Standout details include the black web TPU and leather cage framing the bright red and black colored base from the toe-tip to the sidewalls, as well as embedding the silver chromed jewel Swoosh.
Dynamic zig-zag textures stretch from the midsole up, but the element that really serves as a striking point on the shoe are the 3M iridescent tongue, heel and collar panels.
A small journey, on the occasion of Air Max Day 2021, within a project that we hope will continue for a long time but that for now has been a real success, especially among true fans of Air Max.
Credits: Emanuele Arca, Riccardo Romani
