In modern-day, Berlin is widely referenced as one of the most desirable cities in the world. What’s not often stated in the same breath is how that came to be.
Given current political leanings slanted towards walls aimed to divide, when speaking of the German capital this should be the first point of emphasis. The Berlin Wall plagued and confined and separated for years. It wasn’t until the late 1980’s that the wall came crumbling down, and with that re-enforcing Berlin as the nation’s capital.
In the years that would follow, Berlin slowly rose to its rightful place. And, with that, became a haven for artists across the globe. Writers, sculptors, musicians and the like found refuge in the newly vindicated and liberal city. They’d transform its wide spaces into an all-encompassing art exhibit, and a city known for its exuberant nightlife.
“Berlin has always been a very liberal place, or even something like a fantasy land. West Berlin felt like an enclave until the wall came down, like a place with its own rules. And after the wall came down, the means of freedom in both parts of the city translated into a creative anything goes mentality. A perfect breeding ground for subcultures, with Techno being one of the most important and steady ones,” a unified statement from members of Berlin’s Keinemusik collective.
For Air Max Day, Nike has produced an Air Max 180 to honor the city’s vibrant music scene. Centered around the pulsating electronic music culture that now calls out to worldly visitors who tour Berlin for the intricacies of said scene, a dual theme finds focus in the freedom that vindicated Berlin after the fall of the Great Wall.
The Nike Air Max 180 BLN will launch on March 26 exclusively at select Berlin retailers and on March 30 via Nike SNEAKRS throughout Europe.
