Nike Salutes New York City's Nuyorican Community With an Air Max 97 "Puerto Rico"
A remix of the classic “Silver Bullet” colorway that’s centered around a Puerto Rican flag tongue tag.
New York City is a hotbed of Puerto Rican culture, so Nike is nodding to the Big Apple’s Nuyorican community with a special Air Max 97 “Puerto Rico.” Arriving just ahead of the city’s yearly Puerto Rican Day Parade — a loud, lively celebration full of flags, floats and music — the AM97 “Puerto Rico” shows its inspiration in tact fashion atop a base inspired by the iconic Air Max 97 “Silver Bullet.”
The shoe’s striking silver upper is all OG “Silver Bullet,” with familiar design lines inspired by bullet trains, white EVA foam midsoles and silver Air cushioning units. However there’s several subtle differences, namely navy collar lining, navy trim around the red midfoot and tongue Swooshes and a navy/red heel tab. The most direct callouts to the Nuyorican community are provided by the tongue tab, which serves up a small, full color Puerto Rican flag, and the insole, which says “Aquí Me Quedo,” or “I’ll Stay Here” in English.
This Air Max 97 continues Nike’s tradition of summertime Puerto Rico releases, following up 2020’s Air Force 1 “Puerto Rico” (a shoe that was cancelled due to a design error) and 2019’s Air Max 1 “Puerto Rico,” plus classic releases like 2015’s Air Trainer 1 “Puerto Rico” and 2013’s Air Force 1 “Puerto Rico.” It’s set to release on June 5 via Nike SNKRS and select retailers, priced at $175 USD.
For more news on upcoming sneaker drops, take a look at the latest installment of HYPEBEAST’s weekly Best Footwear Drops list.
