Air Max 90

Designed by Tinker Hatfield and released in 1990 as the Air Max III, the Air Max 90 kept the visible heel Air unit from its predecessor but wrapped it in a bulkier, more structured upper built for the street rather than the track. Renamed after its debut year, it has stayed in continuous rotation as one of the most recognizable Air Max silhouettes Nike has ever shipped.

Founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, Nike grew from a car-trunk sneaker importer into the largest athletic brand on the planet. Its innovation lab has spent five decades chasing marginal gains, from the waffle outsole to full-length Air units to today's foam midsoles. Nike's catalog spans running, basketball, and lifestyle silhouettes worn as much on the street as on the track.