An iconic design will never be irrelevant in the luxury retail industry. Even when there is a multitude of other items that are supposed to rival an iconic piece, the latter has more chances of standing out and winning. It may not be common knowledge, but sneaker culture has seen a few iconic items through the years. To this day, such pieces still achieve retail success and are bought each and every day. A prominent example is Nike’s Air Max 97 sneakers.
Compare Nike Air Max 97 Prices Online
Release date: 1997 (Tribute collection: 2017)
The now-iconic sneakers were first released back in 1997 when sportswear was just emerging as a new and exciting market in the retail industry. The shoes have a special relationship with Japan, and through this, they became highly-demanded in the Eastern Asian market. In 2017, twenty years after the shoes’ debut, the American sportswear behemoth released a myriad of new colorways of the model in celebration of the milestone. Each pair can cost about $150 to $190.
Pros
When one hears the words ‘Nike Air Max 97,’ it’s most likely that there’s already an image in one’s head. The shoes’ iconic design still stands out in the luxury sportswear label’s premier range of shoes, especially with the exciting new colorways. Inspired by the bullet trains in Japan, the sneakers’ wavelength-lines inspire speed and precision to the wearer, even though such a feature don’t necessarily hold any technological advancements. The new colorways offer more eye-catching touches to the design, particularly those that are metallic or multi-colored.
Cons
The designs and colorways are ultimately the shoes’ main attraction, and while they’re show-stopping, they don’t necessarily compensate for what the shoe lacks. Aside from the beloved Max Air cushioning, which is also found in other Nike Air Max models, the Air Max 97 sneakers offer no innovation when it comes to sportswear shoes. While other brands have reinvented their own classic models with technological advancements that help the wearers with their athletic endeavors, Nike’s Air Max 97 stays practically the same after all these twenty years.
Compare with:
- Nike Air Max 90 Premium Running Shoes
- Nike Air Max 95 LX Women’s
- Adidas Tubular Viral Mixed-Material
- Reebok Pump Supreme ULTK
Image Credits: Sneaker actus (featured image), 43einhalb, The Sole Collector, Yeezy Boost Adidas, The Idle Man, Sneaker District (article images).
