The Donkey Kong-inspired .SWOOSH x Nike Air Max 1 Big Head Origins Releases March 2025

Those who pre-ordered the .SWOOSH x Nike Air Max 1 Low Poly have finally started to receive their pairs. However, Nike’s web3 division is continuing to work on the Air Max 1 silhouette in real life as a new colorway of the .SWOOSH x Nike Air Max 1 has appeared.

Big Head Origins is the new collaboration between Nike’s web3 division, .SWOOSH, and Nike Sportswear, which sees the humble Air Max 1 reference an iconic Nintendo character — Donkey Kong. The ape’s brown fur and red tie are translated onto the sneaker via the fuzzy brown suede on the “low poly” mudguard and midfoot panel, while red hues hit the Swoosh, TPU eyelets, and the Swoosh on the Nike logo atop the tongue. The mesh on the base comes in a neutral tan shade that subtly contrasts the suede paneling of the vamp and heel overlay.

More overt references to the video game are found on the tongue, which features an 8-bit warped text for its Nike logo, while the inside comes with a play on the ESRB rating system. Here, we see a black and white logo with the text “Rated by” alongside a .SWOOSH logo, an obvious homage to the age rating all video games are assigned. .SWOOSH branding is also found on the insole with two gold coins, sitting atop an 8-bit graphic that hides a 3D banana, similar to the ones found in Donkey Kong 64 for the Nintendo 64, at the top of the right insole.

The sneaker is complete with an aged foam midsole containing an exposed Air unit in the heel and a brown rubber outsole that matches the suede overlays of the upper. Special .SWOOSH-branded packaging accompanies the sneaker, continuing the low polygon theme with its logo.

The .SWOOSH x Nike Air Max 1 Big Head Origins will release March 26, 2025, the Nike SNKRS App. Check below for images of the pair, and download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.