The new Air Max 97 has been given a mature twist.
He may have left his illustrious job at Givenchy, but fashion designer Riccardo Tisci has not wasted any time in pursuing creative opportunities. The Italian designer effortlessly mixed sportswear and couture throughout his career, believing that the future is about honesty and that people look for honesty in everything.
His latest collaboration with Nike, the NikeLab Air Max 97 Mid x R.T., expands on this theme. He's given the Air Max 97 a mature twist—befitting of his ‘sportswear meets luxury’ aesthetic. He’s kept the shoe’s soul: The shape, the tooling and the length. But, he’s also not been shy about bringing in elements of himself.
(Related: When Your Gym Kit's This Chic, Shopping's Probably Your Cardio)
The renowned talent has been working on a 30th anniversary version of the Nike Air Max 97 sneaker, which is set to launch on March 23. Tisci has unveiled the revamped Nineties classic shoe on Instagram, revealing a mid-rise, cushioned design in navy and white. The sneaker is the latest born from the Tisci/Nike footwear partnership that began back in 2014.
"I gave the shoe more height," he said. "I think it's much more street. It's a new kind of stance, one which I would want in my wardrobe." Tisci isn't the only one celebrating Nike's fashion milestone; designer Marc Newson has also offered his take on the sneaker, which utilises the sportswear giant's sock liner and combines it with a velvet strap. Architect Arthur Huang also created a version, using recycled materials to result in the lightest Air Max 1 model yet.
Nike hit the headlines earlier this month when it revealed plans to launch a head covering for Muslim women, named the "Pro Hijab", next year.