Finely Tuned: the Nike Air Max Plus Kiss My Airs is Steeped in History

The NIKE AIR MAX PLUS KISS MY AIRS shows that Sean McDowell’s design masterpiece has more than earned its place in the Air Max Anthology. As we dig through Nike’s archives in the run-up to this year’s Air Max Day, join us for a closer look at this special edition of the shoe commonly known as the TN.

With its defiant and unapologetic title, Nike’s Kiss My Airs collection is a perfect showcase for some of the more disruptive members of the Air Max family. And for us, the Air Max Plus is right up there at the front of the disorderly line, turning heads and making noise ever since its debut back in the autumn of 1998. At the time of its release, there was nothing else quite like the Air Max Plus: with bright Hyper Blue uppers, black veins across the sidewalls and a midsole that looked like it came from Formula 1 racing, the Plus was truly something new. The small ‘Tn’ motif on the heel and midfoot arches referred to the Tuned Air technology inside and inspired the shoe’s unofficial nickname, the TN. After launching in three original colourways back in 1998, there’s been a constant stream of different variants and editions of the Plus ever since, ensuring its continued visibility on the streets.

For this Nike Members-exclusive drop, the Air Max Plus is in classic form once again – but with a few special details that turn the dial a notch further. Whilst the iconic plastic veins follow the original formula, running from heel to toe and offering structural support to the sides of the uppers, a special ‘Kiss My Airs’ label on the back quarter adds a deluxe accent to the design. A closer look at the tongue and heel panels reveals a debossed Safari-style print, adding some classic Nike DNA into the proceedings, whilst the midfoot arches have been rendered in classic Hyper Blue: the colour of the original Air Max Plus release.

The NIKE AIR MAX PLUS KISS MY AIRS is AVAILABLE NOW, exclusively to Nike Members as part of the Member Days week. Click the banner below for stockist information.