Jovani Hernandez To the uninformed, the Nike Air Max 97 may be considered a “staple” within the brand’s roster of product, but that’s largely due to silhouette’s “rebirth” from 2017 onward.
Prior to the model’s 20th anniversary, the sneaker enjoyed little time in the spotlight (or even its periphery), especially when compared to some of its other Air Max counterparts from the 1990s. One such place that had never forgotten about Christian Tresser’s design, however, was Italy. Widely considered a destination for fashion, the European nation set the stage for the explosion in popularity of the “Silver Bullet”-informed pair, as its design language deviated from the traditional visuals common in and promoted by places like Milan. Disc jockeys and creatives belonging to other sub-cultures found a touch of rebellion with the Air Max 97, which aligned with their interests and lifestyles. The sneaker’s debut look garnered a “Le Silver” nickname, though the latest proposition boasts a color palette more reminiscent of a milk-accompanied coffee. Italian flags are “recreated” on the tongue and spine’s pull tabs, as was the case with a special edition of the model dropped in 2007 exclusively in Italy and NikeTown stores with heavy Italian foot traffic.
No firm Nike SNKRS launch details have been disclosed by the brand, but that’s likely to change before 2022 ends. In the meantime, enjoy official images of the pair ahead.
Elsewhere under the NIKE, Inc. umbrella, the Air Jordan 3 has several new styles on the way.
