Nike Air Max Day celebrates its 12th birthday this Thursday, March 26, 2026. An age that signals a shift in perspective, where curiosity begins to take form and early ideas of identity and direction emerge.

To celebrate Air Max Day 2026 and the launch of the Nike Air Liquid Max, we connected with creatives in our community whose sense of curiosity and childhood wonder have shaped their path. Working outside the trend cycle, they remain devoted to their craft, grounded in authenticity.

Kevin Twan is the founder of Soya Florist, a multidisciplinary practice that approaches florals as a medium for creative expression. Established in 2019, Soya has evolved through ongoing experimentation, collaborative projects, and a considered balance between traditional aesthetics and contemporary composition.

For the Nike Air Liquid Max launch at Above The Clouds, Kevin presents a large-scale installation inspired by tropical rainforest landscapes, referencing the environment of the poisonous frog that informs the shoe. The space takes on the feeling of an overgrown, untamed lab.

ATC: Please introduce yourself and tell us about your floristry practice.

KT: My name is Kevin, and I’m a Melbourne-based florist. My practice is rooted in experimentation while still respecting traditional floral aesthetics, and I’m always exploring new materials to incorporate into my work. I’m particularly interested in the relationship between flowers and the vessels that hold them, often using unconventional mediums. Sometimes this pushes the work further, where the structure becomes the focus and flowers play a minimal—or even absent—role.

ATC: How did you get into floristry, and what drew you into this discipline? 

KT: I grew up on a flower farm where we grew Australian natives, and after school, I spent a lot of time helping out—though at the time, I didn’t enjoy it. After moving to the city, I rediscovered flowers on my own terms through walking, observing, and documenting plants, which gradually led to making small arrangements. That process gave me a new appreciation for floristry and allowed me to reconnect with my dad through a shared interest. While my family focused on wholesale growing, I naturally moved towards design and event-based work.

ATC: Your arrangements often feel both beautiful and slightly otherworldly at the same time. How intentional is that balance in your work?

KT: Very intentional. My early designs were strongly influenced by the ikebana principles of Rikka arrangements, which aim to create compositions that feel almost transcendent—something that goes beyond simply recreating nature.
While my work today doesn’t strictly follow the Rikka style, that philosophy has stayed with me. I’m still interested in creating arrangements that feel slightly otherworldly or sculptural, rather than purely naturalistic.

ATC: When you’re creating an arrangement, what decisions help move it beyond something traditionally “pretty” into something more unexpected or challenging?

KT: Introducing unconventional materials is usually what shifts the work into more unexpected territory. I’ve worked with elements like concrete and metal, and I’m still exploring how these materials can be integrated into floristry. These choices create contrast and change how the flowers are supported and perceived. It moves the arrangement from something purely decorative into something more sculptural and conceptual.

ATC: Can you recall a moment in your work where you chose a less obvious or more uncomfortable direction? What was the outcome?

KT: There have been moments where I’ve leaned into minimal or sculptural directions that feel less conventional and a bit risky. One project that stands out was a store installation using only a single type of flower, resulting in a very restrained and minimal outcome. It wasn’t a typical approach and may not have appealed to everyone, but it felt true to my style. The clients who connected with that vision really appreciated it and responded very positively.

ATC: How do you maintain authenticity and stay true to your own perspective in your work?

KT: I focus on creating work that I really like, rather than trying to design for what I think others will want. By doing that, I naturally attract clients who align with my perspective. It helps me stay consistent and honest in my practice. Even if something isn’t universally liked, I can stand behind it with confidence.

ATC: When people encounter your florals in this project, what do you hope they notice or feel first?

KT: I hope their first reaction is a sense of surprise—almost a “wow, how was this created?” moment. Then, as they look closer, I want them to realise that everything is made from live florals and greenery. That contrast between something sculptural and something natural is what I hope leaves a lasting impression.

Join us Wednesday, 25 March, 6–9 pm, for an immersive sensory lab exploring the shoe and its creative influences; featuring a custom scent bar by xtrascentsory, floral installations by Soya Florist, music by Crÿbaby, cocktails, snacks and cake!

The Nike Air Liquid Max launches exclusively in-store at Above The Clouds Melbourne from 10:00 am on Thursday, 26th March. Stop by for coffee from Goodside Coffee and cookies from Hareruya Pantry. Limited numbers. First-come, first-served.