Nike’s Colorful Chinese New Year Air Max 1 Drops Jan. 25th

Rodents definitely don’t inspire aesthetically pleasing motifs for footwear, which is why sneaker brands have been looking elsewhere for their Chinese New Year Inspiration for the impending Year of the Rat. adidas opted for traditional floral and animal prints on their centerpiece Ultra BOOST collection, with Nike following suit on releases like the Air Force 1 Low and Kyrie 6. But their Air Max 1 addition looks to tribute the rich Chinese culture through color and material. Across leathers, suedes, plastics, and patents, the Swoosh select bold primary colors of customary red and gold, along with bold hits of black, blue, brown and white.

Unique in its construction, this Nike Air Max 1 “CNY” pairs leather underlays with suede overlays and patent leather heel panels. The latter is dressed with metallic gold embroidery that embodies the mythical Longma, while stitched forefoot mini Swooshes tribute the national colors of red and gold — as does the mudguard’s mismatched contrast stitching. Tongue embroidery reads “耐克” meaning “Nike” in Chinese, while lantern-like motifs merge to make a loosely-linked Swoosh logo. White midsoles arrive attached to an intriguing four-color sole unit — but the most alluring detail lies with the in-cut plastic profile Swooshes.

With Chinese New Year celebrations a mere month away, you can expect this Air Max 1 “Chinese New Year” to a touchdown early 2020, with a release date to be officially unveiled soon. Until then, take a peep at the sneaker in full detail below, and be sure to keep your eyes locked on HOUSE OF HEAT for further updates!

Nike Air Max 1 SE “CNY”

Style Code: CU6645-001
Color: Light Smoke Grey/Black/Laser Blue/University Gold
Release Date: January 25th, 2020
Price: $130

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