Nike Air More Uptempo, 1996
“I think generally, the mid ‘90s were just a bigger-than-life time.”- Wilson Smith
Sometimes less isn’t more — logic is restored, and more is more. The Nike Air More Uptempo took branding to new heights to match an unprecedented application of Nike Air that ran from the toe to the heel. Inspired by the oversized objects in pop art, graffiti on the side of trains and an architectural project he’d worked on, lead designer Wilson Smith worked ‘AIR’ into that upper to drive the point home. In 1996, cars were big and jeans were big. The Nike Air More Uptempo was an extension of the environment. Ideal for the vertical player who needed the lockdown and abundance of cushioning, the Nike Air More Uptempo became Scottie Pippen’s shoe of choice and was showcased on a global stage that summer in iconic USA colors.
Article and Photo via: Nike Inc.
