LWA Editor and 2016 ‘Master of Air’ Christopher Kevin Au weighs in on the sneakers that he’s hoping will grace Nike ID Australia. Kev’s questionable taste in shoes does not reflect LWA as a whole.
There’s been a lot of talk since Nike unveiled their plans to bring Nike ID to Australia – and local heads are more than excited at the prospect of designing their own kicks without having to call in a favour from their American mates who they don’t really want to speak to.
The capacity in which customising service will be available is still quite unclear – Nike have remained pretty tight-lipped about the whole affair, and it seems like we have more questions than answers. However, Nike have confirmed via Twitter that ID will be arriving tonight, while their website is undergoing maintenance until 8:00pm. My detective skills tell me that Nike ID might be arriving at 8:00pm, but hey, it seems like everything’s speculation right now.
I decided to add to the conversation by stating five models that I’m hoping will make it onto Nike ID Australia. With the recent HTM ID options showing just what Nike can do when it comes to customisation, I’ve got my fingers crossed for a stellar showing. From Air Max 2 Lights to Footscapes, there’s been plenty of banter about what people want to see, and by that I mean that I’ve been talking to Chonks on Facebook chat about it for the past 45 minutes. I threw in my two cents below. Stay tuned until tonight when all is revealed:
AIR MAX PLUS (TN)
Springing out of eshay cliques and straight into sportswear-inspired hipsterism, the Air Max Plus – better known as the TN – has found formidable homes in France, England and Down Under. The ferocious TN has earned itself a nasty reputation over the years, but it’s been easing itself slowly into a fashion staple, meaning that sketchy bros who spit on the floor and wear Gucci bumbags aren’t the only ones hitting up Foot Locker for the polarising sneaker. With many TN colourways employing a beautiful gradient fade on the mesh body, the possibilities would be colossal if customers could pick and choose their own colours – and don’t forget about that wavy outer cage. Burners! PS We know that this is a Foot Locker exclusive, but we can dream, right?
[Image by Kamil Tomaszewski via Sneakers Addict]
AIR PRESTO
The Air Presto is another sneaker making waves lately, undergoing a Flyknit upgrade that saw it climb up the ankles to a Chukka level. The Presto hype doesn’t look like it’ll be going away this year, and with good reason: It’s a lightweight sneaker solidified by a sturdy outer cage and a toe Swoosh that just can’t be ignored. Perfect for a casual day on the town, the Presto takes the sleek appeal of the Free and Flyknit and drops a tonne of bad-ass appeal on top. I’m hoping that the Presto appears on Nike ID so I can contrast the cage and the soft upper body, and there’s also the ability in the US to add your personal text tag to the sneaker. Start your own crew ASAP so you and all your boys can print bold acronyms on your Prestos and be matching sickunts.
[Image via Kicks On Fire]
AIR MAX 95
An essential choice. Nike Australia have already confirmed that the latest Air Max models will be avaliable for ID, and I’m assuming that gateway silhouettes like the Air Max 1 and 90 will also be present. However, I’m praying to Jesus that the 95 also makes an appearance – and while it hasn’t been the most popular Air Max member in Australia by a long shot, fashion’s recent obsession with European sportswear has seen the 95 have a miniature Renaissance in Sydney and Melbourne alike. The multiple side panels and oversized lace loops on the 95 mean that the ID options are among the most identifiable, and in the US you can also alter the text on the tongue’s Air Max logo. Let’s hope that the 95 ID is an option so I can fly my true colours at the train station and anytime The Game decides to tour.
[Image via Sneaker Bar Detroit]
SHOX
I’m calling it: Within the next two seasons, Shox will be Nike’s next hype shoe. With the aforementioned Air Max 95 and TN currently doing the rounds, the logical step of evolution means that Shox will be the next sneaker embraced by fashion people. A favourite for sketchy guys who hang out in the KFC carpark at nighttime while wearing speed dealers and ill-fitting Canterbury tracksuits, Shox are certainly a bold statement – I want them on ID so I can paint those obtrusive sole cylinders in the most obnoxious shade possible. Metallic gold or hot pink are my current choices! Earlier this year, I stood solemnly at the point of no return at Foot Locker and purchased my very first pair of Shox in all black leather. I would rank it among the Top 3 life choices I have ever made.
[Image via Sneaker Freaker]
AIR MAX 96
This is a long shot! The Air Max 96 is a sneaker that’s flown under the radar since being introduced two decades ago, and there are murmurs that Nike may bring it back for the 20th anniversary this year. There have been no retros meaning that there’s only a handful of colours that the 96 has arrived in during it’s history, which is a real shame. There has been a small (yet very vocal) minority asking for the 96 to be resurrected, but could you imagine if it came back with an accompanying ID option? The ramifications would be huge for the seven people in Australia who love this sneaker.
[Image via Sneakers Addict]
