Nike Air Max 97 OG "Silver"

Celebrating its 25th anniversary

Turning 25 can be pretty sentimental. For many of us, the Silver Jubilee bares a heavy burden of adulthood, and for some things, it’s cementing a “legendary” status. Talking about sneakers with a portfolio like the “97s,” we can appreciate the perfect timing when the shoe was released, kicking off a series of Millennium-ready silhouettes. The Christian Tresser-designed shoe checks all the boxes. Following the release of the uber-successful Nike Air Max 95 and lesser-successful Air Max 96, Tresser was tasked with the ultimate goal:

“This shoe is going to make your career. Don’t blow it.”

Ten years after the visible Air Max was introduced on the Air Max 87, Christian Tresser took up the idea when it was time to give his new employer, Nike his second design. But this time, working with a full-length Air unit called “Total Air” resulted in samples being called Air Total Max III, following in line with the samples of AM95 = Air Total Max I, AM96 = Air Total Max II. But what kind of upper can match the AIR unit? Inspired by his mountain biking adventures and the super techy titanium materials used on them as well as water puddles, the Nike Air Max 97 was approved and ready to be welcomed to the world. Silver Bullets? Well, that came later as a marketing move and its resemblance to Japanese Silver Bullet trains. Promoted through Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson, the fashion-forward running shoe took the world, especially Italy, by storm with its shiny design, line-heavy 3M features, and hefty price tag. And now, when we are already in Italy, the AM97’s final subcultural and commercial breakthrough came through raving, graffiti, and by catwalks of Armani and Dolce & Gabbana, who donned their models with the silhouette. “Le Silver” was born. Not to forget Mel C, Sporty Spice, our favorite Spice Girl, gave a bunch of colorways her sign-off by wearing them every day.

After a series of colorways that followed the original 1997-rellease and a few collaborations, retros, as well as other silhouettes with a similar colorway, Nike continues to give the big birthday treatment to milestone sneakers like the Air Max 97.

On November 11th 2022, the [Nike Air Max 97 "Silver"](/product/air-max-97-og-dm0028-002 "Nike Air Max 97 "Silver" sneakersnstuff") aka "Silver Bullet" returns on Sneakersnstuff.com

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