take a never before seen look at the NIKE AIR factory

founded in 1964 as ‘blue ribbon sports’ — officially changing its name in 1961 — NIKE is a giant of the sportswear industry. a cultural icon, the brand’s much loved ‘swoosh’ is a symbol of quality, endurance and a dedication to design that has had many companies scrambling to keep up. however, it was NIKE’s AIR technology that truly pushed the brand to the fore. invented by NASA scientist frank rudy in 1977, the concept began with the novel idea of putting air bags inside shoes, and it’s a move that’s kept NIKE on the running track ever since.

to celebrate the ongoing success of NIKE AIR, the footwear brand has released a behind-the-scenes film that grants watchers a never before seen look into the company’s NIKE AIR manufacturing innovation (AMI) factory in beaverton, oregon, where over 3.5 billion AIR soles have been produced. compiling clips from the various stages of production, the video is just a small peek at what exactly goes into making the much loved shoes. for many however, the rare insight is like taking a tour of willy wonka’s chocolate factory.

the rare insight is like taking a tour of willy wonka’s chocolate factory

with the release of its new VaporMax technology last year — billed by NIKE as ‘the lightest AIR max sneaker ever made’ — the brand continues to push the envelope when it comes to sneaker design. these units are crafted by a team of over 1,300 employees, both in the company’s beaverton location and in its sister factory in st. charles, missouri. the clip, entitled ‘fresh air from oregon’, provides a brief but detailed look at the people and processes that go into creating the household brand’s most well known product.

the soles are assembled by a staff of over 1,300

although easy to dismiss as ‘just a running shoe’, NIKE products have become an undeniable mainstay of contemporary street style. along with brands like adidas, ellesse, reebok and umbro, NIKE AIR and its contemporaries have seen a drastic surge in popularity over the past ten years, firmly placing the streets ahead of the runways when it comes to sartorial innovation. despite recent collaborations with high fashion designers like olivier rousteing, kim jones, jun takahasi, and renowned brands like comme des garçons, ‘fresh air from oregon’ demonstrates NIKE’s dedication to the task at hand, its first love: running.

NIKE has become an undeniable mainstay of contemporary street style

‘already a global phenomenon, NIKE is taking AIR to places that that were never dreamed possible,’ says the company on its website. ‘new materials, computational design, and manufacturing tools are pushing the limits of this technology. as a result, AIR is going to translate far beyond running—making waves in new sports and style’.

‘for the first time ever, we’re sharing with the world how we breathe life into NIKE AIR. take a look at this video ‘fresh air from oregon’ and get an inside look into NIKE’s AIR manufacturing innovation facility’.

the popularity of the brand has firmly placed the streets ahead of the runway when it comes to sartorial innovation