The Nike Air Max 1/97 is returning for the first time since 2018 as part of the Doernbecher Freestyle Collection for Spring 2027. Its comeback leads a six-shoe lineup created with patients from OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Along with the Air Max hybrid, the collection includes a women’s Air Jordan 11 Low IE, women’s ACG Rufus, men’s Air Force 1 Mid, women’s Structure Plus, and a sixth model that has not yet been named. Each pair will be shaped by one of the program’s newly announced pediatric designers, using personal stories and experiences as the foundation for the design.

Nike launched Doernbecher Freestyle in 2004, pairing young patients with members of its design team to create limited-edition footwear. The yearly project has since raised millions of dollars for the children’s hospital while producing some of Nike’s most sought-after charity releases.

The Air Max 1/97 is easily the biggest surprise in the group. Sean Wotherspoon introduced the silhouette through Nike’s Vote Forward campaign, combining the layered Air Max 97 upper with an Air Max 1 sole. Its colorful corduroy construction helped make the 2018 release an immediate favorite, but Nike never followed it with another version.

There is no confirmation that the silhouette will return outside the Doernbecher collection. Still, its first appearance in nearly nine years will likely bring fresh attention to a model many expected to remain a one-time release.

Full release details have not been announced. Based on the previous collection’s schedule, the Nike Doernbecher Freestyle 2027 lineup could arrive in January 2027.

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Source: Kicks Finder