Nike Air Max 180 - White / Bright Ceramic The Air Max 180 was the first shoe to feature 180 degrees of visible Air cushioning. This was brought to life by bonding the bold urethane outsole to the Air unit, marking the first time Nike Air would literally hit the streets with each step. 1987 saw the birth of the Air Max lineage, showcasing visible Air for the first time. What began as an experiment in cushioning soon evolved into an icon on the track—and the streets. Over the years, it's been re-imagined and re-tooled, but the heritage always remains. Nike, pronounced Ni-key, is the winged goddess of victory according to Greek mythology. She sat at the side of Zeus, the ruler of the Olympic pantheon, in Olympus. A mystical presence, symbolizing victorious encounters, Nike presided over history's earliest battlefields. The Nike 'swoosh' embodies the spirit of the winged goddess who inspired the most courageous and chivalrous warriors at the dawn of civilization.