The Air Max 95 turns 30 this year- and Nike is pulling out all of its stops for the iconic Air Max model.
By now, the history associated with the Air Max 95 is very familiar to sneakerheads. The Air Max 95 was designed by Sergio Lozano- who was at the time working for Nike’s ACG division. This experience with the outdoor conditions would allow Lozano a fresh perspective for the latest sneaker in the Air Max line. His frame of reference would grant Lozano the opportunity to draw inspiration for the Air max 95 from the outdoors. The gradient side panels represented eroding soil; all the while, the first ever black sole on a Nike running sneaker helped to hide the dirt that would accumulate after runs.
Sergio Lozano’s second form of inspiration was the anatomy of the human body. The shank along the outsole and heel represented the human spine. The iconic nylon eyelets represented ribs, while the heel counter invoked the shape of a vertebrae. Finally, the eclectic layer of mesh on the upper represented the muscle fibers that move the body.
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Though initially met with pushback, the Air Max 95 went on to embed itself richly in sneaker adjacent cultures. The sneaker became a phenom. It dressed your favorite rapper. It complimented the joy of one of football’s most creative players of all time. The Air Max 95 became the essence of cool in popular culture. It’s proximity to hip-hop and graffiti culture made it essential footwear at major cultural hubs around the world, especially New York.
Though the sneaker became a phenom in the 20th century- the trend cycles and evolution of footwear technology have often pushed the sneaker to the side. Air Max fans were no longer traveling around the world to bring the Air Max 95 back to their cities. As tastes continued to evolve, the Air Max 95 seemingly fell in the shadows of other popular Air Max models- be it the Air Max 1, Air Max 90, or Air Max 97. Much like the muscle fibers that inspired the sneaker design, though, the Air Max 95 connected sneakerheads to cultures that kept it’s legacy alive.
This year, the Air Max 95 is turning 30. To celebrate that milestone, Nike is rolling out the proverbial red carpet for the iconic sneaker.
Earlier this month, the Air Max 95 Neon returned in the “Big Bubble” form at select stores. Though a wider release is expected in mid April, the return of the Neon 95 was a huge success. Nike partners globally sold through their inventory of the beloved sneaker. Currently, a SNKRS drop is expected in North America around April 18th.
That is just the start of the return, though. Another classic colorway, the Pink Foam Air Max 95, is expected to return this Spring. Like the Neon, the Pink Foam colorway will feature the big bubble midsole more closely resembling the 1995 original.
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This week, Nike surprised the sneaker world by releasing a Neon 95 inspired by the original sketches made by designer Sergio Lozano. The sneaker flips the beloved gradient design of the Neon 95, while also replacing the material to a nappy suede throughout the upper. The release came with little to no notice, and is believed to be limited to 1500 pairs sold exclusively via MoMA’s Design Store. The pair celebrates the 30th anniversary of the sneaker- all the while showing us what the original Neon could have looked like.
Seemingly, the celebration will not stop there, though. Nike SB is expected to release an Air Max 95 later this Fall. Nike will release an Air Max 95 collaboration with beloved Anime series Yu-Gi-Oh also some time time in the Fall.
Though these upcoming collaborations may seem puzzling, or even random to some, they work to celebrate exactly how deeply the Air Max 95 is loved across other cultures.
Stevie Williams was famously photographed skating in the Air Max 95. Joey Wheeler’s iconic outfit in the Yu-Gi-Oh series featured the “Air Muscle,” for legal reasons, of course. From a skatepark in Philadelphia to the pages from Japan- the Air Max 95 had a deep impact in the worlds adjacent to sneakers.
30 years since originally releasing in 1995, the Air Max 95 is finally able to get its flowers for changing the Air Max line. It is getting its due for it’s impact on streetwear culture and for its ability to connect worlds.
Though it has often lived in the shadows of other Air Max models- the Air Max 95 is poised to have a huge moment this year. For a sneaker as important to not only the Air Max line but popular culture as a whole- it is about time.
Keep it locked wit us at SoleSavy for the latest on upcoming Air Max 95 releases. The SoleSavy DROPS app is your best source for the latest news and raffle details.
