And the innovative styles that followed every year, like the men’s Nike Air Max 97, simply breathed new life into the series, stoking the heat that brought sneaker fans running.
When ripples caused a wave
Designer Christian Tresser drew his inspiration for the Air Max 97 directly from nature. The way a single droplet would cause a concentric circle on the surface of an undisturbed body of water seemed graceful and almost poetic to Tresser. So he created waves along the upper of the Air Max 97.
The OG colorway drew from an element that pierced natural countrysides, the silver bullet train. In explaining the Silver/Silver colorblocking, Tresser also noted that mountain bikes at the time had innovative lightweight metallic components such as aluminum and titanium.
Another groundbreaking feature of the Air Max 97 was the full-length Air-Sole unit. This paved the way for a number of models featuring Max Air and its low-profile cousin, Zoom Air.
That said, the next iconic Nike Air Max style was the Air Max Plus of 1998. The upper resembled waving palms of a Florida beach, while the Air cushioning was – like the AM 97 – visible in the forefoot and heel but was broken up to help add natural articulation and improve comfort.
A popular Air Max that preceded the 97, the Air Max 95, also drew inspiration from nature, but from a little bit closer to home. Sergio Lozano designed the laces of the 95 to resemble a spinal column: its upper to recall muscle fibers, and the outsole to embody the look and flex of a spinal column.
Champs Sports has colorways to match virtually any outfit, or to just stand out on its own. So click through and find your size while you still can.
Apparel Max
Once you’ve established the groundwork for your look, you’re going to want to top it off with just the right apparel pieces. So layer up with wind jackets and short- or long-sleeve T-shirts, and color it up with hoodies, jogger pants, and more.
Look for sizes for men, women, and kids to get a little something for everyone.
