The release of the Nike Air Max 95 upped the ante – with the first forefoot Air units and a design so distinct it hardly needed a Nike swoosh to be recognized, the 95 was a truly radical sneaker that flew off the shelves. But just two years later, Nike designer Christian Tresser would design a shoe equally iconic: the Nike Air Max 97.
Stepping into the Future
The Air Max 97’s design was like nothing the sneaker game had ever seen. An Air unit ran the full length of the midsole – more Air than any other Air Max model at that point in time. The rippling lines of the upper, inspired by the radiating waves made by a drop of water in a pond, gave the shoe an instantly recognizable look. The original colorway’s reflective silver demanded attention.
With the new millennium just around the corner, the future felt like it had arrived, and the Air Max 97 tapped into this spirit. Nike would later market the shoe as being inspired by Japan’s silver bullet trains, but all it took was one look at the sneaker to see it was meant for the modern world. New technology, sleek lines, and a chrome finish, established the 97 as a shoe of the future.
Nike Air Max 97 and Beyond
After the 97 hit the market, it didn’t take long before it eclipsed the Air Max 96. Starting with a cult following in Italy, the model quickly picked up steam in the States. Soon people were demanding more – and Nike answered. Releases like the Nike Air Max Plus 97 and the Nike Air Max 97 Plus spoke to the 97’s enduring influence, while the Air Max 97 Ultra offered a slimmer, streamlined rendition.
With its groundbreaking design, the Nike Air Max 97 shoe has solidified its spot in sneaker history. But the 97 isn’t just sitting in the archives – it’s still all over the streets, still shaping sneaker culture.
