Nike Air Max Plus “F.C. Barcelona” By Patta Releases On October 17th

The Nike Air Max Plus debuted in 1998 as a Foot Locker-exclusive offering. Sean McDowell’s silhouette has since been sold by more retailers, helping it cement its footing within sneaker culture-at-large. And while the Tuned Air pioneer has loyal fans stateside, its core audience roams the United Kingdom and Europe, with enthusiasts also existing in Australia.

Folks across the Netherlands have always been vocal about their love of the Air Max 1, the silhouette that pioneered visible Air cushioning. Yet, the Dutch haven’t discriminated successors to Tinker Hatfield’s iconic design. Patta – a streetwear pioneer based in Amsterdam – is seemingly on a mission to showcase exactly this as it’s prepped an Air Max Plus in the colors of F.C. Barcelona.

A linkup with the northeastern Spain’s biggest football club couldn’t have been predicted, but the official collaboration suggests an expansive collection of Air Max sneakers inspired by Nike Football is on the way. McDowell’s blueprint is faithfully followed, allowing Barça’s blue and garnet colors to appear in gradient fashion across the mesh base. Dual swooshes decorate the profiles, with whale tail-like shanks underfoot also donning a rich gradient arrangement. Hairy fabric appears on the spine in conjunction with plastic “Tn AIR” badges; logos on the top of the tongue replace nods to Tuned Air with Patta’s name. Non-standard lace dubraes also join the mix, boasting the blaugrana’s iconic emblem in all its glory. Other nods to F.C. Barcelona include the striped aglets, orange accents throughout the sole unit, and “Culers del món” phrasing on the sockliners. Lastly, the shoes are packaged in a special co-branded box.

Enjoy official photos of the collaborative pair ahead, and anticipate firm Nike SNKRS launch details in the coming weeks.

For more sneaker news, check out the latest Air Jordan release dates.

Photos via Nike