John Kim 
The period between 2002 and 2005 was undoubtedly the Golden Era of sneaker collaborations. The list of top-shelf influencers in art, fashion, hip-hop and everything relevant mixed in-between is one of the most impressive rosters you’ll ever see, and it was then that names like Stash, Atmos, Diamond Supply, and Supreme came out some of the sickest Nike bangers during that span. Each collaboration showcased an individual attitude and style, but few exude the level of sublime European luxury like the Kid Robot x Nike Air Max 1, designed by Paul Budnitz and Chad Phillips of Kid Robot. Originally releasing on February 11th, 2005 as an exclusive item to Barneys on Madison and 61st St. in New York City, the Air Max 1 ‘Kid Robot’ was the perfect mix of the playful Kid Robot charisma with the foreign supercar swag of the 1986 Maserati Quattroporte III Royale, and with the inspiration set in stone, Paul and Chad arrived at the flawless colorway of Black, Metallic Gold, and Hot Pink, with the Kid Robot mascot watching guard on the heel.
The Kid Robot Air Max 1 came boxed in a limited edition slide-out package accompanied by a Kid Robot figurine and one of five different blind sockliners packaged in Kid Robot’s signature foil bag. The sockliners were all distinct from one another, designed individually by five different artists (Gary Baseman, Dalek, David Horvath, Huck Gee, and Frank Kozik). In addition to the released version, an unreleased sample with metallic gold thread embroidery on the Kid Robot figurine on the heel was produced, as well as a Hyperstrike ‘Friends & Family’ version with a Hot Pink upper. This 2005 classic was Kid Robot’s sole partnership with Nike and continues to be one of the most sought after grails among Air Max fanatics worldwide, and with such a limited number in circulation the hunt will likely see no immediate end. Click below for the full Classics Revisited breakdown of the Kid Robot x Nike Air Max 1 below and let us know where this ranks among the greatest sneaker collaborations in history!
Kid Robot x Nike Air Max 1
Black/Black-Hot Pink-Metallic Gold
311745-001
02/11/05
$150
Photos: osneaker
