Designed by Sean McDowell, the man behind the design of previous Air Max Plus shoes, the Kukini was created in collaboration with triathlon athlete Mark Allen to solve a seemingly marginal but not minor problem: preveanting water from seeping onto the upper, making the shoes heavy.

McDowell abandons the traditional lace system, preferring the innovative silicone cage-the upper is made with a special overlay of TPU Foot Web and Dynamic Stretch Mesh: a material still new for the time, which will open up endless possibilities for the footwear industry.

the Kukini turns out to be totally waterproof, while the Phyton midsole and Duralon outsole rest on the unique Air unit, giving the shoe incredible comfort.

Thanks to the avant-garde design and innovative materials used, the sneaker finds a permanent home across the ocean in Japan.

Tokyo’s cool kids populate the ranks of the world’s most thriving and interesting technical sneaker community, which exploded with the first boom caused by the Air Max 95. It is almost impossible to imagine, in the context of Japanese austerity, that these shoes were literally stolen from the feet of the wearer, only to become the subject of the counterfeit market.

Although not as violent, the second technical sneaker boom occurs precisely with the launch of the Alpha Project; but if the first was brief and intense, the second achieves greater popularity and durability.

The Air Kukini sees a surge in popularity especially among women, thanks in part to collaborations with legends such as Urahara, Hiroshi Fujiwara, and popular Japanese press idols such as Kawori Manabe.

And in Europe? The Air Kukini are an unconventional and avant-garde style statement. Those who choose them are tacitly part of an urban tribe: the clan is composed mainly of clubbers, artists, creatives, citizens of the global village.

Although several versions have been made over the years, the Air Kukini OG are finally ready to make a comeback after 22 years.

As the popularity of the Y2k aesthetic continues to grow, Millennials and Gen-Z kids can finally get their hands on three iconic colorways: leopard pattern, icy blue, and ice white.

Discover them online and in store

WORDS: Manuela Palma