Nike Vapormax 97

Like other legendary Air Max entries like the original, 90, and 95, people began to recognize the 97 as a truly unique and innovative shoe. Much of that uniqueness can be attributed to the shoe’s unconventional design inspirations.

Faster than a Speeding Bullet

The pressure was on for first-time Nike designer Christian Tresser. Nike had already gone through two unsatisfactory designs and was relying on the up-and-coming Tresser to come up with something truly special. Knowing this design would make or break his career, Tresser turned to his mountain-biking hobby as a source of inspiration. The 97’s iconic Silver/Silver colorway was directly inspired by the aluminum metal on metal finishes featured on mountain bikes at the time. Nike’s famous and oft-repeated line that the 97 “was inspired by silver bullet trains” was something they made up for marketing.

The signature lines that decorate the upper of the 97 took inspiration from a similarly unlikely source: rippling water. Inarguably the most recognizable part of the shoe, the wavy lines that cloak the upper both add a sense of speed and intrigue to the silhouette and highlight the shoe’s large Air unit. With so much at stake, it’s surprising how daring Tresser went with the design, from the upper to the colorways. Without such forward-thinking boldness, however, we would never have gotten such an iconic, boundary-pushing shoe.

Cult Classic

The rise of club culture, braggadocious hip-hop, and the metallic materials trend of the late ’90s all created a perfect storm for the Air Max 97 to thrive. While the 97 didn’t stay on shelves for long for its initial run, the shoe caught on like wildfire in urban areas of Japan and Italy, becoming an iconic symbol of both the catwalk and the emerging underground club culture. This placed the 97, nicknamed “Le Silver” in Italy, exactly at the crossroads between high and low fashion, increasing its profile significantly. Since then, the 97 has always stood out as a fan-favorite Air Max that’s luxurious enough to turn heads yet accessible enough to rock anywhere.

Constant collabs keep the Air Max 97’s shiny silhouette fresh for modern audiences, cementing it among the Air Max greats like the 90, 95, and TN (Air Max Plus). Nike has also released a line of signature Air Max 97 apparel for a look that, like the 97 itself, is timeless yet always sleek and fashion forward. Step into a pair of these silver fan favorites or pick up a new colorway today.