Since its inception, the Nike Air 180 has been associated with art. FOOTDISTRICT has decided to tell its story through art with illustrator Maldito Mono.
The Air 180 is a cult classic, admired and sought after by a select few. For the relaunch of one of its original colorways, Ultramarine, we sought out someone who understood them. Someone who recognised not only the technological innovation of introducing a 180-degree visible Air unit, but also its cultural significance at the time of launch and long after.
Maldito Mono is an illustrator and graphic artist with extensive knowledge of the Air Max saga and its history. Condensing and summarising the Air 180 in three moments was a difficult task, but that is what we aimed to accomplish with a sticker pack that will accompany each Air 180 in FOOTDISTRICT.
Air 180 is Global
The Air 180’s 1991 release marked Nike’s first major global campaign. A year before the Barcelona Olympics, the Air 180 was available in stores around the world simultaneously. Until then, knowing someone who was constantly travelling was the only way to ensure you had the freshest sneakers.
It was not just a launch; Nike International was an unofficial athletics club that gathered the world’s best athletes and proudly displayed its crest, which changed color to match the shoes. It appears, of course, on the 180 insole.
Air 180 is art
The global campaign for the Air 180 also featured global protagonists. Tinker Hatfield, the designer of the Air 180, was well aware of the distinction between art and functional design. To present the technological advancement of the Air 180, Nike had artists from all over the world, Ralph Steadman from the UK, Marcello Morandini from Italy, Alfons Holtgreve from Germany, Takenobu Igarashi from Japan, Charles S. Anderson from the US, Jean-Luc Godard from France/Switzerland or David Cronenberg from Canada.
The campaign was not the first to interact with artists, but it was the first to do so in a way that had a lasting effect, helping to link art and Air 180.
Air 180 is a cult classic
Of all the ways to leave a lasting impression, the Air 180 opted to become a model that is almost forgotten and only appears on special occasions—a misunderstood one. In contrast to its Air Max brothers, Air 180 reissues are hard to find or extremely limited, featuring one-of-a-kind designs to commemorate albums or anniversaries. The favorite design of your favorite designer. The definition of a Cult Classic.
A special edition sticker and booklet have been created by FOOTDISTRICT and Maldito Mono to commemorate the release of the Nike Air 180 “Ultramarine”. The Air 180 will be available for purchase starting on May 24.