Nike Air Max 97

Introduced in 1997, the Christian Tresser designed Air Max 97’s sleek and circular aesthetic took inspiration from natural resources with Tresser stating - "The nature of it was water dropping into a pond. The water would drop and radiate out to the Air unit". As well as nature, his love of mountain bikes and the design of the Japanese Shinkansen Train (or Bullet Train as it’s more commonly known in English) informed the sleek look the first coveted Silver Bullet iteration. Diverting from its predecessors, the Air Max 97 was the first from Nike to house a full-length translucent Air sole unit completely displaying the cushioning technology below. Although it may be taken for granted in the present, the introduction of a concealed laces system was wholly innovative at the time, as the technology offered a more streamlined silhouette.