PAN and Nike's "The Suspended Hour": A Sonic Sneaker Symphony at Milan Design Week
Credit : Stefano Mattea
The convergence of cutting-edge sound and footwear innovation has materialized in Milan, as Berlin-based experimental music label PAN and sportswear giant Nike unveiled their highly anticipated collaboration. Following the online emergence of official images, the duo have taken over Milan Design Week to present their sleek, blacked-out iteration of the Air Max 180, a design that subtly yet powerfully reflects PAN's rich and boundary-pushing musical history.
In a departure from the traditional Air Max 180 design, this collaboration sees the removal of the iconic medial swooshes, resulting in a minimalist and sophisticated aesthetic. PAN founder Bill Kouligas articulated the synergy between the footwear and his label's ethos, stating that the Air Max 180 represents a "cultural bridge between innovation and artistic expression," a perfect embodiment of the technical precision and boundary-pushing aesthetics that define PAN's approach to experimental electronic music.
Credit : Stefano Mattea
To mark the debut of this unique collaboration, PAN and Nike have created an immersive experience at Milan Design Week titled "The Suspended Hour." This installation serves as a tangible manifestation of PAN's musical archive, inviting attendees to step into a spatial audio encounter that journeys through the ebbs and flows of a never-ending club night. The experience is structured around five distinct emotional states – "Anticipation, Discovery, Euphoria, Twilight, and Solitude" – offering an interactive exploration of the multifaceted nature of electronic music culture.
Kouligas, reflecting on his personal journey and creative influences, noted that his experiences growing up in Athens, living in London, and calling Berlin home for the past sixteen years have profoundly shaped his perspective. He emphasized that creativity flourishes at cultural intersections, viewing borders not as limitations but as "bridges that connect different ways of thinking and creating." This philosophy of cross-cultural exchange appears to be subtly woven into the fabric of the PAN x Nike collaboration.
The futuristic reimagining of the Air Max 180 is envisioned as the ideal footwear for nocturnal explorations, seamlessly blending with a club-ready aesthetic. The design features a black mesh upper, overlaid with a translucent glaze that adds a subtle textural contrast. Adding a layer of intriguing symbolism, the collaboration incorporates understated Greek mythology iconography, a nod to Kouligas' heritage and potentially alluding to the mythical Pan, the namesake of the record label and the god of music and wild nature, whose image is also subtly featured on the shoe's packaging and outsole.
Kouligas further elaborated on the core values shared by PAN and Nike in this project, stating that the Air Max 180 embodies a "bold design that pushes boundaries while remaining accessible." He drew parallels between the sneaker and his label, highlighting their shared commitment to blending experimentation and technical innovation with a distinct artistic vision, ultimately creating something that is both distinctive and viscerally connects with people.
Attendees of Milan Design Week have been granted an exclusive firsthand look at Nike and PAN’s "The Suspended Hour" installation. For those unable to experience the installation in person, the highly anticipated collaboration is set to drop via PAN’s Bandcamp store on April 9th, offering a tangible piece of this sonic and aesthetic convergence. The understated yet conceptually rich design of the Air Max 180, stripped of conventional branding and imbued with subtle cultural and musical references, invites a deeper engagement with the intersection of music, design, and personal identity within contemporary culture.
Credit : Stefano Mattea
