Nike Air Max 97

In 1997, the Swoosh brand released one of its biggest hitters to date: the Nike Air Max 97. Finding inspiration in nature and mountain bikes—not the bullet trains of Japan, as the brand would lead you to believe—designer Christian Tresser came up with a running shoe as visually enticing as it was functionally applicable. The futuristic upper featured ripples like a raindrop landing in a puddle, and three lines of Scotchlite taping were added to the sides to mirror the metallic finish of a mountain bike. Notably, the Nike 97 was also the first in the Air Max line to feature a full-length visible Air unit, the effect of which was complemented by a hidden lacing system. If you’re a follower of the Air Max line or someone looking to begin their trainer collection, you’ll want to revisit the sneaker that marked the jump into the next millennium. Browse the JD Sports Australia range of Nike 97s, and enjoy a broad selection of colourways, including black and white.