In pictures: Nike On Air winners 2018

Last year, Nike invited locals from New York, London, Paris, Seoul and
Tokyo to design Air Max sneakers inspired by their communities. Six designs
(one from each city) were selected by the sportswear brand. After inviting
the winners to visit the company’s headquarters to refine their creations
alongside professional footwear designers, the company has unveiled the
first prototypes today.

Nike intends to start launching the winning shoes in April. Meanwhile,
winners will be involved in the entire process of bringing a shoe to life,
from idea to prototype to completion. Retail prices and locations were not
yet disclosed.

Designed by New Yorker Gabrielle Serrano, the Air Max 98 La Mezcla
represents different skin tones present in New York City. She aimed to
celebrate the city’s ethnic and cultural diversity.

Nike Air Max 97 Neon Seoul, designed by Gwang Shin, was inspired by
Seoul’s neon signs and the Taaeguk symbol on Seoul’s flag.

Londoner Jasmine Lasode celebrates summer and love in the city, inspired
by the memory of a first date spent on Primrose Hill. She worked on the
Nike Air Max 97.

Yuta Takman, from Tokyo, chose to honor the urban labyrinth of colorful
tube lines that shoot beneath the city. Embossed leather represents the
city’s concrete surface, while the red bubble pays homage to the famous
Tokyo Tower.

Lou Matheron was inspired by photographs of an under-construction
Parisian courthouse when developing the concept for her Nike Air Vapor Max
Plus, dubbed Paris Works In Progress.

Cahs Ru, a resident of Shanghai, was thinking of clouds floating above
the city’s skies upon developing the Nike Air Max 97 SH Kaleidoscope.

Photos: Nike newsroom