Nike pays homage to the island of Puerto Rico with its latest Air Max 97 sneaker.
Nike’s Air Max 97 “Puerto Rico” honors the Caribbean island and its trailblazing figures who have left their mark on the world both culturally and historically. Taking notes from the 2017 Air Max 97 “Silver Bullet”, the sneaker appears in a primarily mixed-texture silver and grey upper complete with accents that speak to the feels of Puerto Rico. While the Puerto Rican flag graces the tongue and outsole, the flag’s colors of red, white and navy blue are dispersed throughout the shoe in areas such as the heel tab, midsole, and lining. Not to mention, the insole reads “Aquí Me Quedo” which means “Here I’ll Stay” in English to symbolize the notion of home and individuality within the Puerto Rican community.
The sneaker will also be accompanied by a special edition white and navy blue towel that reads “Puerto Rico Te Quiero,” or “Puerto Rico, I Love You” in English. T-shirts will also follow at a later date in June.
In order to capture the true authenticity and essence of Puerto Rico, creative director Mellany Sanchez stepped in to hand-select movers and shakers from the Nuyorican community who will lead the campaign. Figures included Alumni Council Chair for the East Harlem Tutorial Program Leslie Ortiz, DJ Bembona, Puerto Rican mixed martial artist Amanda Serrano, and engineering student and model Cassi Priestley. Additionally, murals designed by Celso Gonzalez will be presented in Brooklyn and Harlem to go along with the launch.
The Nike Air Max 97 “Puerto Rico” lands on Nike’s SNKRS app and select stores on Saturday, June 5th at 10AM EST with a price tag of $175.
Photo by Pegah Farahmand