Clot’s ‘Kiss of Death’ Nike Air Max 1: Comparing the 2006 and 2021 Pairs

Image via Complex Original

At first glance, the most obvious difference between the 2006 and the 2021 version is the updated color on the heel. While still keeping it true to the original with the incorporation of the shoe’s familiar orange hue, Chen and CLOT have added a brand-familiar red in an effort to stay true to its roots. When lights flash onto the surface of the new K.O.D.s, the red heel lights up to add a new unique touch to the sneaker in the dark.

Inspired by the practice of Chinese foot massage, the 2006 Air Max 1’s insoles feature a diagram of a human foot surrounded by characters and arrows pointed toward certain pressure points. Now in 2021, that motif has been taken to another level by way of a list of focal points throughout the body that extend beyond just the lower body. Nike also updated the collaboration’s box with a more modern version but carried over the same graphics from 15 years prior.

Similar to the last section, these differences highlight the tradition of Chinese foot massage. The original version featured a normal underside of a human foot while 2021’s focuses on key touchpoints. Decked out in a number of colors, the new outsole acts as a map, showing pressure points that are highlighted during a massage.

Like most clear shoes designed with plastic paneling, the original 2006 version of this Air Max 1 was not exactly the most breathable. Much like ESPO’s Air Force 2 collab, the shoe’s window would fog up a bit when worn without socks, an issue that should be remedied by 2021’s toebox perforations. Originally, the 2006 pair was given a translucent window due to the prevalence of open-toed footwear in China, an idea carried over to the retro.

For the 2021 version, CLOT opted to keep the initialism as the shoe’s main nickname as opposed to “Kiss of Death” in an effort to remain sensitive toward the current circumstances around the globe.