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The history of the Air Max 97
Air Max 97, as its name suggests, was first introduced in 1997. It was designed by designer Christian Tresser , a year after the mixed release of the Air Max 96 . Just like its predecessor, this Nike trainer was shunned at its launch by regulars of the swoosh brand as well as by the trainers community. Too futuristic pair of shoes? Maybe.
Although it was criticized upon its release, it still represents a considerable step forward in the design of Nike shoes. Filled with technological innovations, it is the first silhouette equipped with a sole composed entirely of air units, thanks to a new innovative process: blow molding making it possible to create the 180° sole that we know today. 'today.
We owe this innovation to Tinker Hatfield, the undisputed designer who notably imagined the Air Max 1 . He initiated the movement with this pair of trainers which was the first model in the Air Max range to feature an air cushion in the sole. This line of shoes would have visible air bubbles in the sole, its trademark. Hence their name: “ Air Max ”.
Design inspirations for the Nike Air Max 97 OG
In order to think of the Nike Air Max 97 , there were multiple inspirations. Tresser started from the structure of the Air Zoom Spiridon to rethink it with a touch of modernity. With this idea, and to give the pair a more dynamic and futuristic appearance, the upper of the Air Max 97 men imitates the appearance of the Japanese high-speed train: the Shinkansen .
He also imagines 3M reflective strips on both sides of the pair, recalling the movement of a drop propagating with speed, like on the windshield of a rapidly moving car. Yes, it's all a question of detail and precision in this pair of Air Max .
In addition, the silver gray color of the original model, the Air Max 97 Silver Bullet , is both inspired by that of the Shinkansen, but also by the materials used in mountain bikes, namely aluminum and polished titanium. Two years later, its sister colorway, “Gold Bullet” would be released, and OG versions still continue to appear.
Finally, the last futuristic detail of the AM97 : its laces! Unlike the air bubbles in the sole, the lacing system has been hidden. In fact, its eyelet system has been hidden in the upper of the sneaker. This novelty once again reinforces its futuristic look. The shoe is also aggressive, thanks to the bright red swooshes on the tongue and lateral sides, contrasting with the rest of the original pair.
The Air Max 97, popular with collaborations
Like many iconic Nike models, the Nike Air Max 97 OG has been the support for numerous collaborations with designers and brands. These collaborations gave rise to limited editions highly sought after by collectors and sneakeraddicts. We can notably cite the Air Max 97 Off White , notably the “Menta” and “The Ten” versions, imbued with the imagination of the late designer Virgil Abloh.
The Air Max 97 Comme des Garçons were particularly successful, with the release of CDG Black and CDG White colorways.
Despite its more than 20 years of existence, the Air Max 97 OG remains very popular with sneakerheads and enjoys continued popularity among fans of urban fashion. Nike has continued to re-release it over the years, offering OG versions as well as revisited and modernized versions. The Air Max 97 Air Sprung Gray Celery accompanied by the Air Max 97 Bred are the two best-sellers in our catalog.
