Nike Unveils Air Max 1 Ultra Flyknit [PHOTOS]

Rereleasing past favorite kicks updated with modern technology is common in today’s sneaker market. The next iconic silhouette to get reimagined is the Nike Air Max 1 with one of the brand’s most celebrated technologies — Flyknit.

The Nike Air Max 1 Ultra Flyknit arrives Thursday via SNKRS, and at select retail partners worldwide on July 28. It will also be available on NIKEiD starting July 28.

By incorporating Flyknit, according to the brand, the shoe is the lightest Air Max 1 released by the brand. But legendary Nike designer Tinker Hatfield — the man behind of the original Air Max 1 — did not design the shoe. Instead, he handed the reins to Ben Yun for the upcoming release.

“I clearly have a strong affinity for the Air Max; however, it’s even more fun and amazing to watch our younger design and development teams operate,” he said. “Design innovation is picking up speed around here, and a perfect example is through Flyknit. It’s getting lighter and more zoned for performance than I could ever have imagined.”

Yun’s design includes Flyknit, the first time the Air Max 1 has been paired with the material, which also boasts open Flyknit construction in the toe and tongue for ventilation and close construction in the heel for support, according to the brand.

“Firstly, the tooling is the most comfortable, the most lightweight that we have had so far on this shoe: it hardly feels like you’re wearing a shoe at all,” Yun said. “Secondly, [it] feels like you’re wearing a T-shirt or a sweater in the way that it really conforms and fits to your own foot. Thirdly, we wanted to eliminate as much excess material and design as possible to stay true to the original shoe: no distraction inside or outside.”