In line with the upcoming launch of the Nike Air Max 97 ‘Gold Bullet’, at HIP HQ we spent time looking at the history of this iconic silhouette.

Who Designed The Air Max 97?

The Air Max 97 is one of defining designs that makes up legendary Nike designer Christian Tresser’s vast portfolio of hit sneakers over the years. First entering Nike’s Beaverton HQ in ’97, Tresser developed classics like the Spiridon, and was even the brain behind the Mercurial football boot – famously debuted by Ronaldo at the 1998 World Cup. Tresser’s innovation marked the progressive mood of the era, as he pushed forward technical features like 360-degree 3M reflective piping and full-length Air bag units.

History Of The Air Max 97

During the ’90s Nike’s sneakers combined fashion with functional design – taking inspirations from everyday life and our natural world. At the forefront of this intersection was Tresser’s Air Max 97. The first ever AM 97 was the iconic ‘Silver Bullet’. The shoe was commonly thought to take its inter-connected shape from Japanese bullet trains, but was actually referencing the contours of water ripples. Whilst its metallic colour was inspired by the aluminium finishes seen on mountain bikes. The evolutionary aesthetic of this shoe would change the sneaker world forever.

The Air Max 97 ‘Gold Bullet’

In 1999 the AM 97’s lineage continued with the ‘Gold Bullet’. In 2023 Nike is re-issuing this futuristic silhouette, which still looks ahead of its time today. Arriving in a ‘Metallic Gold’ colourway, the shoe keeps all of the original features that makes it so iconic: a visible full-length Air unit, wavy panels finished with a 3M reflective taping and a hidden lace system.

The Nike Air Max 97 ‘Gold Bullet’ is online now.