Nike Reveal Final Designs of the Nike “On Air” Winners

Six cities, six Air Maxs.

In 2018, The Nike: On Air contest brought thousands of participants to workshops in New York City, London, Paris, Seoul, Shanghai, and Tokyo, where locals dreamed up shoe designs inspired by their communities. In May, 18 finalists were narrowed down to six winners (one from each city) who were invited to work alongside Nike designers and developers to bring their designs to life. The winners’ final shoes were revealed today.

“There are attributes in the shoes this year that I would have never even considered, like introducing tools to encourage consumer modularity or pushing the boundaries of material usage,” says Dylan Raasch, Senior Creative Director of Nike Air Max. “These concepts prove that there are always new ways to approach design.”

Get a better look at each of the final designs below:

Nike Air Max 98 “La Mezcla”

City: New York
Designer: Gabrielle Serrano

Serrano’s design, inspired by the diversity of New York City’s population, adorns an upper that mimics different skin tone shades. The diversity theme continues on the insoles, which are covered in national flags from around the globe. Grey cracked leather wrapping the mudguard is a nod to NYC’s urban environment, while minimal mint green accents represent the Statue of Liberty.

Nike Air Max 97 “Neon Seoul”

City: Seoul
Designer: Gwang Shin

Shin’s Nike Air Max 97 Neon Seoul is inspired by the city’s neon signs, complete with a matte black body, vibrant colors and contours inspired by the Taaeguk symbol on Seoul’s flag.

Nike Air Max 97 “London Summer of Love”

City: London
Designer: Jasmine Lasode

Lasode’s Nike Air Max 97 London Summer of Love celebrates summer in the city and love, with a personal memory – a first date spent on Primrose Hill – as her inspiration.

Nike Air Max 1 “Tokyo Maze”

City: Tokyo
Designer: Yuta Takuman

Takuman’s Nike Air Max 1 Tokyo Maze honors the dizzying urban labyrinth of colorful tube lines that shoot beneath Tokyo. Embossed leather represents the city’s concrete surface, while the red bubble pays homage to the iconic Tokyo Tower.

Nike Air VaporMax Plus “Paris Works in Progress”

City: Paris
Designer: Lou Matheron

Photographs of an under-construction Parisian courthouse inspired Matheron’s concept for her Nike Air VaporMax Plus Paris Works in Progress, reimagining the colors andmaterails from the job site.

Nike Air Max 97 “SH Kaleidoscope”

City: Shanghai
Designer: Cash Ru

The Nike Air Max 97 SH Kaleidoscope reflects Ru’s impression of the clouds floating along Shanghai’s skies as they shift and dissipate to create new forms and shapes.

All six pairs will begin to release this April. While we wait on release dates to be confirmed, grab a few more looks at each sneaker below. You can read the full rundown directly from Nike here.