Nike unveils city-specific floral Air Max Ultra 1s

Nike is one step ahead this spring with a new capsule collection featuring floral redesigns of its Air Max Ultra 1 running shoe inspired by six world cities.

The brand, which has been working on positioning itself as the go-to for the style-conscious urban runner for some time, is zoning in on London, Milan, New York, Paris, Shanghai and Tokyo this season for its "Sportswear Women's City Collection".

The six designs have been created from three different patterns combining the local heritage, flora and fauna of the cities. Each shoe features its own distinct colour scheme.

Lilies are the focal point of the pattern used for the New York and Paris designs, with the Big Apple's recreated in a stylish monochromatic palette, while the City of Light is personified by blushing rococo pastels.

Cherry blossoms form the basis of London and Tokyo's shoes, with sapphire blue and indigo hues representing the Japanese metropolis and strong reds and whites providing a riff on the Union Jack colors for the UK capital.

Delicate plum blossoms are the blooms chosen for the Milan and Shanghai designs, with the former adorned with a bleached bronze lining in reference to the Italian Renaissance. The Chinese version is washed in a deep, striking ruby tone.

Florals have been making a reappearance in high-end sportswear of late, with abstract blooms appearing in Adidas Originals collections from both Mary Katrantzou and Rita Ora last year. Stella McCartney has also long been a champion of the look, including floral motifs in her Adidas collections.