The Air Max 270 React Fuses Two Of Nike’s Prized Platforms

Creating a new category requires a firm foundation that can not only hold up the pilings to a structure, but withstand the waves of trends that can possibly disrupt the building process. For Nike, they’ve got two incredibly strong beams in their made-for-lifestyle Air Max units and React foam, and for the Summer they’ve joined those forces to create one of the most impressive new silhouettes to date.
 
 
Today, Nike officially unveils the Air Max 270 React – a seamless blend of the smooth and resilient foam and eye-catching Air bag unit. Led by Nike Sportswear Design Director Dylan Raasch, who spearheaded some of the brand’s most popular casual footwear icons such as the Roshe as well as the Air Max 270, this new articulation of Air Max continues the apply the pressure in the industry while equally satisfying the new generation and the fastidious clan of OG ‘heads.

The Air Max 270 React strongly resembles the Air Max 93, a Tinker Hatfield design that boasted the first wrap-around visible Air, a dynamic fit system with the extended neoprene bootie, and an array of modern colorways. Its nuanced curves reflect the original silhouette, with some extra touches of color-blocking at the fore-foot of the mudguard. The visor at the toe-box, a key component of the Air Max 270, also makes a return, but with fluid water-drop tips. The inherent grooves of the React foam are also a loose nod to the carved body of the 93’s midsole. Hatfield’s tendencies to tuck the Swoosh under a layer is also evident as the head, tail, and belly of the logo; they are all partially shrouded by an adjoining overlay.

The React Element 55/87 model, one of 2018’s best new sneakers, also lends some recognizable elements to the design of the Air Max 270 React. The exterior heel as well as the extended pull-tab are inherent to the DNA of the React Element, while the floating eye-stay makes a dominant push as one of the shoe’s most identifiable features. The outsole also blends the rivets of the React Element and the inner-tube shaped horseshoe at the heel, promising smooth transition from heel to forefoot. The Nike design team opted for a fully no-sew construction by tightly layering the materials, giving the appearance of a traditional cut-and-sew aesthetic.

Nike will introduce the Air Max 270 React in a variety of colorways inspired by art and design history. The two launch colorways celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Bauhaus founding, focusing on the school’s studies of asymmetrical balance. Other themes on upcoming Fall 2019 colorways include geometric compositions, mid-century-inspired color-blocking, the groovy psychedelic history of San Francisco, and more. Each pair comes with its own unique insole design that range from an abstract viewpoint to a plain and simple shoebox.