The new Nike Air Max 90 EM sneakers take their cue from a city in China named Tianjin. Tianjin is the fourth largest city in China and one of five national central cities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The equivalent to a national city in the U.S. is the District of Columbia, which is a federal state city controlled completely by the federal government and not bound by state laws. Tianjin has long been an important seaport city as well as a gateway to China's capital city.
The Nike Air Max 90 EM includes a black mesh design on the toe, which sits on top of a white bottom rim with paint splatters. This shoe comes as part of Nike's Engineered Mesh City Series. It will sell for $120, but is only available in limited quantities.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- City-inspired Sneakers
- Opportunity for footwear brands to create sneakers that draw design inspiration from specific cities or regions, appealing to consumers' sense of local pride and identity.
- Limited Edition Releases
- Potential for brands to generate hype and exclusivity by producing sneakers in limited quantities, driving consumer demand and creating a sense of urgency to purchase.
- Cross-cultural Collaborations
- Possibility for brands to collaborate with local artists or designers from different cultural backgrounds to create unique sneaker designs that fuse elements of various cities' aesthetics.
Where This Applies
- Footwear
- Opportunity for footwear brands to tap into the market demand for city-inspired sneakers and limited edition releases.
- Fashion
- Fashion industry can leverage the trend of city-inspired sneakers to create city-themed collections and collaborations with footwear brands.
- Art and Design
- Artists and designers have the opportunity to collaborate with footwear brands to create exclusive, culturally-inspired sneaker designs that appeal to a global audience.
