The Nike Air Max 90 Drift Dominated By A Mecha Aesthetic

Nike is re-imagining its Air Max icons for the future. It’s a understandable strategy to gain newfound relevance to the younger “Gen Z” crowd and the younger demographic coming up right behind them. It comes down to maintaining the iconic DNA established by Tinker Hatfield, but adding the right modifications to give it that edge.

We’ve seen this direction with the women’s exclusive Futura line on the Air Max 90 and Air Max 97, while the unisex Drift methodology has appeared on the Air Max Plus just one quarter into 2024. Now, the Air Max 90 joins the Drift family, itself introducing some key changes that abide by our guidelines laid out above.

Immediately, you can see the edges of the Air Max 90 are much sharper, with dimensional exaggerations made on certain sections for that bulkier, almost mecha-like aesthetic. The materials receive a modern swapping as we see nylon grids on the tongue and a stitch-less construction with smooth-surfaced synthetics. Even the mudguard, typically arriving in leather or suede, features a textured exterior akin to armor.

Thus far, a Light Orewood Brown colorway has surfaced, but we figure more are on the way for Summer/Fall 2024. Check out the gallery of images below to get a closer inspection, and stay tuned for updates regarding availabilty.

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