words & image // Zack Schlemmer
The Air Flow still looks pretty weird in 2012, so imagine what they were like in 1988.
One of the all time classic running shoe designs from Nike, the Air Flow is the father of Huarache technology from the early 90's, and the grandfather of the Air Presto from 2000.
The Air Flow's innovation and influence on later Nike running designs was its streamlined, minimal design that utilized a stretchy Nylon material for the entire forefoot of the upper. No extra material around the toe box allowed the shoe to be much lighter than other running shoes of its time and offered a dynamic, sock-like fit. As if the shoe wasn't interesting enough, Nike made sure you definitely noticed it with eye-catching colorways like the neon green "Bright Cactus" colorway and the Lush Teal/Varsity Purple version seen in this ad.
Check out the original two-page ad below, and let me know if you happen to have those matching tights and jacket lying around somewhere!
