The Nike Air More Uptempo is a product of its environment.
Introduced in 1996 by designer Wilson Smith, the Air More Uptempo basketball shoe was inspired by the culture surrounding the era. In a time where big was always better, Nike used oversized objects in pop art, graffiti on the side of trains, and architecture as substance for his shoe design.
To make his point clear, Smith wrote “AIR” in big, attention-grabbing block letters. The shoe featured a never-before-seen use of Nike Air, running the full length of the entire shoe, for maximum cushioning. The sneakers were such a hit that NBA star Scottie Pippen adopted them as his own. In fact, Pippen and other members of the ‘96 Team USA Basketball team were so impressed with the kicks that they laced the shoes up for the summer Olympics happening that year in Atlanta.
Be sure to check out the previous editions of Nike’s `20 Designs That Changed the Game’ series.
[Nike]
