Nike just released this Air Max 97 for women, priced at $400. Officially dubbed the Air Max 97 LX, this new sneaker keeps it basic with an all-black upper built with nylon materials and a unique splatter treatment, and with the sole as Nike recycles the original Air Max 97 launched 20 years ago as a silver shoe inspired by the industrial finish on mountain bikes. So what about this shoe demands a $400 price-tag?
Nike Air Max 97 LX Swarovski
Well, NikeWomen designers looked to a material pioneer, Swarovski, and their Crystal Fabric, to creatively embellish and add durability to the Air Max 97. Containing tiny, densely clustered cut and uncut crystals, the fabric offers a gleaming yet gritty appearance, perfect for a new expression of the original’s signature shine.
“This was such an exciting project in terms of material innovation,” says Marie Crow, Nike Material Design Director for NikeWomen Sportswear. “We were looking to explore shine and durability in a new and innovative way, and we loved the juxtaposition of the Crystal Fabric’s tough sparkle to reinvent an already iconic shoe.”
Nike Air Max 97 LX Swarovski
So, Nike designers gravitated toward the “Crystal Comet Argent Light” Swarovski Crystal Fabric swatches, which were then applied to the Air Max 97.
Nike Max 97 LX are already available in black, while the silver “Swarovski” is available globally, in women’s sizing, starting September 7 at select retailers. Each pair comes with a card insert.
