Out Now: Nike Air Max 97 ‘Koi’
News of this release was first published July 22, 2022.
Update December 9, 2022: After official images of the Nike Air Max 97 ‘Koi’ surfaced earlier this year, the white and gold pair is available now directly from Nike. Hit the link below to cop.
Christian Tresser’s will always be a favourite for Air-heads. Debuting in 1997, the silhouette was famously modelled on a water droplet radiating outwards from a puddle. Finding its way into Italy’s literal and cultural underground in the late 1990s, the Air Max 97 soon became a hit the world over, with sneakerheads celebrating its metallic, avant-garde aesthetic.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, fans have been treated to numerous colourways (although we’re yet to see the OG ‘Silver Bullet’ iteration), the latest edition taking cues from the Japanese koi fish (also referred to as Nishikigoi) – a symbol of love, harmony and prosperity.
Manufactured in a classic mix of leather and mesh, the AM97 features suede mudguards and unforgettable 3M striped panels. Koi fish scale motifs strike the midfoot cutouts and tongue tabs, a design element extended to the graphic prints on the insoles – which feature the koi fish itself. Finally, full-length Air units complete the design.