Nike Air More Uptempo '96 "Thank You, Wilson" | Release Info
Images: Nike, House of Heat, Sole Savy
If you’re a sneakerhead, chances are you’re a fan of Air Jordan. We’d even be willing to bet you can name more than a few Jumpman silhouettes off of the top of your head. While excitement over a fresh pair of J’s is a shared feeling within our community, knowing the history behind the silhouettes we know and love is a little less commonplace.
Nike is taking us to history class this fall with a new show named after the footwear industry’s first black designer, Wilson Smith III. Wilson joined the Nike team in 1983 as an interior designer, just three years after graduating from University of Oregon. A few years later, Wilson shot up at the company as a footwear designer, and became an integral player in creating some of the most iconic AJ silhouettes to come out of the 90s— including the Nike Air More Uptempo.
“Good design performs for people. Good design solves problems. It’s not just beautiful; it solves problems.”
This upcoming version of the Air More Uptempo honors the trailblazing work Wilson has done throughout his career as a designer, creating shoes worn by some of the most influential sports figures of all time. A white, pink, purple, and baby blue gradient upper makes an appearance on the Nike Air More Uptempo ‘96 “Thank You, Wilson.” White grids cover the ombre upper, giving the sneaks a futuristic feel. The sci-fi vibe was intentional, capturing Wilson’s affinity for space age TV. Silvery pull tabs read “WSIII 12 05 1983,” standing for Wilson’s initials and start date at Nike. White insoles feature Wilson’s signature along with a quote we should all abide by: “in humility, count others more significant than yourselves.”
Check out Wilson’s TedX Talk down below, plus official photos of the Air More Uptempo ‘96 “Thank You, Wilson.”
Where can I buy the Nike Air More Uptempo ‘96 “Thank You, Wilson”?
The Nike Air More Uptempo ‘96 “Thank You, Wilson” will go live on Friday, October 21 at 9:00 a.m. over on the Nike site. These will cost $175 USD while the Big Kids and Little Kids versions will cost $140 USD and $100 USD, respectively.
Until then, shop other Nike styles down below!
