Nike Air Max 1 '86 x Jacquemus

Simon Porte Jacquemus’ luxury fashion label began working with Nike in 2022, debuting an elegant rendition of the Air Humara. Following this, they moved on to the legendary Air Force 1, and in 2024, Jacquemus decided to reimagine another of Nike’s iconic designs: the Air Max 1 ‘86 Big Bubble. For this new endeavour, they drew on a different source – the charismatic city of Paris and the incredible athletes that Nike supports. The upcoming Olympics was due to take place in the city, so many of these stars would be preparing to compete, and Jacquemus used their stories as inspiration for a collection of apparel that merged sports with fashion and culture. Being French himself, the designer had a deep connection to the subject matter, and he chose French actress Juliette Binoche to star in a short film made to promote the collection. Entitled J’aime Paris, it was the first movie he had personally directed and provided the perfect opportunity for him to show his affection for the city by celebrating its charm and beauty. In addition to Binoche, it featured a diverse cast from around the world that included tennis superstar Serena Williams, English model Lila Moss and British rapper Central Cee. In honour of his home country, Jacquemus infused the collection with the red, white and blue tones of the French flag, with elements of silver for a chic touch. This appealing colour scheme extended to his three stunning Air Max 1 ‘86 colourways, which are a powerful expression of style and sophistication.

A striking tone of University Red defines this bold Nike Air Max 1 ‘86 x Jacquemus sneaker. Its outer features a luxurious blend of materials, from the breathable mesh of the base layer to the plush suede panelling over the top. A glossy piece of patent leather has been slotted in between these two layers around the heel, with Jacquemus lettering stamped into its surface. Mismatched elements appear across the design, often distinguished by the use of various different shapes. This occurs on the white parts of the outsole, which have rounded grip pads alongside Jacquemus text on one shoe and blocky lugs with swoosh branding on the other. The theme continues elsewhere on the design, including the classy leather keyrings that are delivered with it and the metallic ringlets either side of the tongue. At the midsole, the medial Nike Air windows also take on this geometric look, but those on the lateral side are much larger rectangles, just like those on the original Big Bubble Air Max. Capping off this vibrant collaborative design are the elegant Metallic Silver mini swooshes, which bring a magnificent lustre to the flanks.