Nike is celebrating the long tenure of designer Wilson Smith with this new colorway of the Air More Uptempo, one of his most beloved silhouettes.
The sneaker, shown here in grade-school form but expected to release in adult sizing as well, utilizes a gradient effect on the upper that fades from purple to pink behind an open mesh. It features 3M detailing, common to the Air More Uptempo, and Smith’s start date with the company of Dec. 5, 1983, on the tongue tag. The shoe’s insoles display the designer’s signature along with an excerpt from from Bible verse Philippians 2:3-4.
In addition to the Air More Uptempo, Smith’s resume with the Swoosh includes designs like the Air Max BW and Air Jordans 16 and 17. He also worked on signature models for Nike athletes including Charles Barkley and Andre Agassi.
In an internal document viewed by Complex, the Wilson Smith Uptempo tribute was scheduled for a September 2022 release.
