Concepts x Nike Air Max 1 Mellow

“Nike has been a tremendous partner to Concepts. Together, our collaborative track record speaks for itself,” says Deon Point, Concepts Creative Director. “When we decided to work on the Air Max 1, a personal favorite, we wanted to fully honor the irreverent spirit of Nike from its origins in the ‘60s up to today.”

This idea is paid off through the Concepts x Nike Air Max 1 SP “Mellow.” The design digs into the culture, music and style of the late ‘60s, specifically the music festival scene of the era, in all its vibrancy. Often held over long weekends, these festivals ticketed by the day. And, while there was a shared belief in the peaceful power of the gatherings, each had its own unique essence.

The music was eclectic, the style electric, and mood buoyed by crowds spreading love.

Among the festival goers were seen protest symbols, peace signs, floral adornments and frayed edges. Denim mixed with the now familiar olive of military surplus M-65s, and juxtaposed with the softness of wide wale corduroy and velvet. These elements give the Nike x Concepts Air Max 1 SP “Mellow” its character.

The shoe’s motifs draw from the 1969 summer music series that took place in Harlem with an olive green mudguard, in homage to the M-65. The “Friday” colorway includes patterned elements of bandanna, cowhide, and woven material panels. The former, a Concepts-exclusive, approximates the famous guitar straps of the era. Further details include a lateral striped Swoosh and a medial “flower power” Swoosh. The tongue label revives a classic ‘70s Nike logo and twists it with a Concepts “hippie” word mark. The design is completed by a custom footbed.