Tag Archives: uk footwear history

I wrote about the History of the Air Max 90

For my second big research piece, I had to tell the story of the Air Max 90’s journey in the UK. I managed to find a lot of great images for this piece that I was really happy about. However, researching the Max 90’s period from around 1992-2000 proved difficult.

I looked back through my phone to see if I could find any photos of me wearing the shoe during my stockroom days, but instead stumbled across this photo.

air max 90 infrared from 1990 on display glass protector side profile with cracked midsole by the heel
Original Air Max 3 Hyvent Red from 1990 on exhibition at Sneaker Unboxed at the Design Museum

I took this image at a Sneakers Unboxed exhibition at the Design Museum on the 12th of April 2022. Captured in that photo is a pair of original Nike Air Max 90 “Infrared” from 1990. Little did I know I would be writing about the importance of this iconic Air Max and its connection to UK culture over 4 years later.

nike air max 90 2020 inner side profile taken on sony erricsson cybershot grainy image
AM90 Infrared taken on Sony Erriccson phone omw up to Manchester in 2022

For the more keen-eyed among you, there’s a photo of me balancing the “Laser Blue” in my website’s banner. That’s a shoe I really fell in love with during my time at the Manchester size? days. I had put that pair on hold for months, until one day I finally bought it for £56.50 with my employee discount.

A beautiful photo of my Laser Blue AM90 with the library’s trees in the backdrop

During my time writing about the Air Max 90’s UK History, I would wear the laser blues to the library, hoping it would inspire the words and research I was trying to formulate. Sort of like when a writer wears his lucky writing pants, or a florist uses their lucky secateurs – you get the picture.

Another one for Nike and sneaker history lovers, be sure to give it a read!

Here’s the song of celebration, a tune to celebrate the current feeling of gratitude,

I Wrote about the History of the Nike Air Max 95

I was recently asked to write an in-depth piece on the Nike Air Max 95’s connection to the UK.

I had a mega time finding old archival photos of people wearing the shoe back in the day. Hours of image searching led to where the piece is now, a task that I had loads of fun with.

It was really interesting getting a chance to dive deep into how the UK received the shoe. If it were up to me, I’d have covered a few more subcultures, like the charva memes of today, or included a little more of the Makina scene from up North, but alas. Maybe one I can crack on with in my own time aye!

Regardless, if you love shoe history, then I hope you enjoy reading this one!