Nike Air Max 1 (1987)

Tinker Hatfield was inspired by the Centre Pompidou in Paris (which exposes its structural elements on the outside) to create a shoe with a visible air bubble in the sole. Nike executives thought it was insane — who wants to see the inside of their shoe? Consumers loved it. The Air Max 1 launched the visible air technology that would define Nike for the next four decades. In the UK, the Air Max became the shoe of rave culture and football casuals. "Air Max Day" (March 26) is now a global sneaker holiday. The 2017 Air Max 97 "Silver Bullet" revival showed the design's timelessness. Total Air Max franchise revenue: $5+ billion annually.