Sneakers

Here's a Look at Tinker Hatfield's Original Sketch for the Nike Air Max BW

How the street staple came to be.

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Complex Original

Although it may not boast the fan base of closely related sneakers like the Air Max 1, Air Max 90, or even the Air Max 95, the Nike Air Max BW is one of the most significant sneakers in the entire Air Max family. Cult following and street style embrace aside, one need not look any further than the BW's name to find the root of its impact.

With a name that stood simply for "Big Window," the Air Max BW took the visible Air unit of the Air Max 90 and made it even more visible, giving the illusion that the Air unit was actually bigger and at the same time amplifying the key selling point of the Air Max line. In these original 1990 sketches by Tinker Hatfield, you can get a better idea of what exactly was going through the designer's mind as he whipped up one of his most fondly remembered silhouettes.

These throwback blueprints aren't the only reason that BW fans should be excited, either. With Air Max Day 2016 on the horizon, the O.G. "Persian" Air Max Classic BW is set to drop on March 8, and Nike's also got a lighter, modernized version of the BW known as the Air Max BW Ultra releasing in four colors on March 3. Check each one out below.



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