Nike Pop a Corker of an Air Max 97
are continuing to cultivate and grow their assortment of with the incoming drop of another showing off cork detailing. It certainly is a cause for celebration as these are some of the better integrations of the natural material in recent memory.
The OG AM97 may have been a futuristic marvel with the era’s latest synthetic materials and reflective stripes, but this cork edition takes a more agricultural approach instead. Recycled polyester canvas forms a major portion of the upper panels, which are dyed in hardy shades of ‘Obsidian’, while strips of ‘Thunder Blue’ add complementary contrast. However, the point of attraction here is the tasteful cork piping running along the top edge of the mudguard, subtly alluding to the thematic inspiration of the colourway.
Like many of the other plant-themed sneakers in this pack, these AM97s also display an embroidered motif of the cork plant on the tongue. Finally, driving the point home is the cork-infused rubber outsole, which again helps with the recycled percentage points, and also may add beneficial properties to the grip and durability of the tread. If it works for boot soles, why not sneakers?
The Nike Air Max 97 ‘Cork’ will release via Nike and selected retailers on April 29.