Nike is setting up the Air Max 97 for another run, this time without its usual laces. The redesigned pair surfaced during Paris Fashion Week in three colorways, offering an early look at what could be part of the model’s 30th anniversary plans.
Most of the original shape is still there. The difference is up top, where Nike removed the standard lacing system and built the shoe around a wide tongue and slip-on entry. Layered panels curve across the toe before flowing into the sides, keeping the Air Max 97’s familiar wave pattern but giving it a smoother, more enclosed look.
Nike showed the laceless design in silver and grey with blue branding, a glossy all-black makeup, and a louder neon green option. The green pair adds neutral mesh, metallic gold side panels, and a pale yellow sole, while the other two stay closer to the model’s usual metallic and monochrome territory.
Reflective details and shiny overlays still play a big role, which fits the Air Max 97’s original late-1990s styling. The full-length visible Air unit also remains unchanged underfoot.
Without laces running through the center, the shoe looks noticeably cleaner and slightly more futuristic. Still, it reads as an Air Max 97 right away. The low profile, layered upper, pull tabs, and full-length cushioning all carry over.
The Nike Air Max 97 Laceless is expected to release sometime in 2027, when the silhouette celebrates its 30th anniversary. An exact date, or pricing have not been announced.
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Photos: undiscovered.ig
