When you think of Nike what comes to mind?  Michael Jordan, sports, the swoosh, performance, your childhood etc etc. Well with all this being said what ties it all together is the actual product produced by Nike, as Spike used to say “its gotta be the shoes” and for most of us it is, the shoes. The things we wear on our feet, the things most of us reading this blog collect, the shoes.  My recent trip up to NYC for the 21 Mercer opening I got to really see first hand where all this is going and the future of things to come.  During the Beijing Olympics Nike Sportswear selected eight defining products from its history and made them as innovative as anyone has seen. These eight iconic styles are recognizable but have been remade too infuse performance into every detail.  These eight icons which we all know will be the backbone and soul of the Nike sportswear line for years to come and will get better each year. Lets take a look into four of the footwear icons and see what they are really about.

Air Force 1

The AF1 was created in the early 80’s, well 1982 to be exact, it was the first basketball shoe to feature Nike Air technology in the inner sole. It is and I’m sure most of you will agree that it is the most legendary shoe. Being one of the most popular shoes for you sneaker heads its been customized more than any other shoe. It came from the hard pavement of playgrounds and now even in your closet, it’s still the most respected shoe out. With some changes made(improvements)you will find the interior re-engineered in supple leather, smooth, rolled edges for comfort.

Nike Dunk

The Nike Dunk emerged in 1985 in College Basketball games. Originally it was eight teams that pioneered the use of that would become part of the uniform.  The dunk in a sense was created to help players dunk on opponents and also to flash pride for the schools colors. This of coarse turned into something never witnessed before by mashing sport and now a culture together and here self-expression was born.  So, it started out as showing team colors then turned into a way to show off. Now 20 or so years later the shoe has become one to play ball in, skate in, and has become a piece of history for all of us and Nike.  The rebirth of it thru the Nike Sportswear eyes has given it a new feel.  A molded ankle collar, spring loaded stay-put tongue and a reinforced upper with skived edges just makes you love it even more.

Air Max 90

During the late 70’s early 80’s the first “Air” shoe was born into this world of ours. The main goal of the air max collection was to create the best comfort by installing Air-Sole units and new ways to make the “Air” technology better over the years. So skipping a couple years and going to 1987 when the first visible Air-Sole of the Air Max was introduced(by Tinker), the genius of this new technology became visible to everyone. From then on the Air Max technology took off and has been improved ever since. The air max 90 was the second shoe to have this “visible” air technology and with its flashy infrared colorway it immediately became an icon and has since been re-released a few times thru out the years.  Nike Sportswear uses its original platform but increased the interior padding and ankle molding. The use of the “Infrared” colorway the new Air Max 90 is a perfect blend between the past, present and future.

Cortez

The Cortez and maybe its the same for you is something i can remember as far back as the first day of school.  The Cortez was created in 1967 and was a revolutionary piece of running equipment. Designed by a famous track coach and Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, the shoe crushed the competition with its lightweight, aerodynamic construction.  The Nike sportwear line left the bold, and simple design of the Cortez alone.  Instead they upped the comfort with molding at the ankle and improved cushioning in its footbed.  Fatlaces add a aerodynamic touch and a nameplate makes sure you will never forget your roots.  In my opinion if it aint broke then dont try to fix it. The cortez will be forever a classic.

If you ask me what my favorite footwear Icon is, I would have to say the Air Max 90.  It being my favorite sneaker of all time as is this new and improved version just makes it even better for me, the colorway is still there along with the comfort and over all great feel of it.  If you havent tried a pair on we still have some sizes left of the Air max current so come by and learn something.

The next four Icons serve a even greater(well almost, sneakers rule everything) purpose. The Nike Sportwear apparel line is some of the most innovative pieces of clothing that Ive ever held in my hand. Just to have the chance to hold some pieces in my hand was a amazing experience, especially if your a clothing and fashion junkie like myself. so I will waste no time and get right into the next four Icons.

Windrunner

This is the ultimate running jacket, The Windrunner became the face of all Nike apparel at the time when Nike was really only known for its footwear.  During the 1984 Olympics 58 athletes that were supported by Nike took home 68 medals that year.  It was one of the most recognizable pieces of apparel from that era. Its nylon construction was created for runners and meant lightweight wear for the athletes.  But when early hip-hop culture took it in, it then crossed the lines between sport and culture.  The windrunner has been re-mastered today, the outershell is even lighter, built with super- breathable nylon and equipped with NO Sew pocket construction and a updated hood adjuster.

AW 77 Hoody

The AW 77 Hoody to me is one of the most important pieces in the collection, because I wear hoodies religously when its chilly out, the hoody was born in 1977 and the AW means “Athletics West“.  This was the sweatshirt worn by legendary runners such as Pre Fontaine to Alberto Salazar.  Fleece has been the foundation of athletic apparel and Nike has always wanted to do it the best.  Night teamed up with Loopwheeler of Japan, which is a company known for making the highest-grade of fleece.  Loopwheeler is one of the only manufacturers in the world that still makes the cotton fabric on loopwheel machines. With all this being said it makes the AW 77 Hoody the icon it is.

Eugene Track Jacket

Now how many times have you seen a track jacket? How many different ones have you seen? How many companies have you seen make a track jacket? Tons right, but nothing compares to the original.  This re-mastered version called the Eugene Track Jacket is also part of the Nike Sportswear line.  It is constructed of retro polyester on the outside; double knit rib trim at the collar, cuffs and waistband; and a heavy duty zipper. This jacket fits like a glove!

NSW Tee

A tee shirt is a tee shirt right? Wrong, tees can stand out from one another for a few reasons, graphics, brand etc etc but what really makes a tee is its fit and the fabric.  The NSW Tee brandishes the original Sportswear Logo across the front of it.  This was a hit on the playing field and gyms in 1979 and became a instant classic on and off the field and became a must have. The updated version has a modified fit and is made from 100% organic cotton and Nike uses soft inks that gets better with age.

It almost seems like Nike had this planned from the get go.  Using vintage styles from its past and making some adjustments allows us a consumer, athlete or collector to use this new and improved products just as they were used once before.