English grime artist Skepta is following up his wildly successful Nike Air Max 97 collaboration from last summer with the Air Max 97/BW SK hybrid.
A contemporary representative of London’s grime music scene, Skepta is using his latest collab to explore the theme of “connected culture.” According to Nike, Skepta is drawing on his relationship to Paris — the first place his music broke outside of the UK — to bridge a gap between two of the world’s oldest capitals, Paris and London.
Both cities are fashion destinations connected by train beneath the English Channel. Now, Skepta’s latest sneaker aims to celebrate the 1991 Tinker Hatfield-designed Air Max BW with a tricolore look for both London and Paris.
At the time of its original release the Air Max BW (big window) had the largest visble Air unit of any sneaker at the time, according to Nike. However, because it saw a limited release in the U.S., it was overshadowed by the Air Max 90 and Air Max 180. The Air Max BW released in much larger numbers in Western Europe and grew to be a fan-favorite within several subcultures in London and Paris.
“When I was younger, Air Max was the shoe to flex in,” said Skepta in a statement. “The bigger your Air bubble — you’ve got a big air bubble and everyone can see that. The BWs…it’s funny it’s called Big Window.”
Moreover, Skepta wanted to work with the Air Max BW because Dizzee Rascal, a founder of the grime music movement, wore a pair on the cover of his first album Boy in da Corner.
According to Nike, the Air Max BW has held the French record for consecutive years as a top seller. In Paris the shoe is nicknamed “La Classique,” and in 2007, a colorway specifically for the Paris Saint-Germain football club released to great fanfare.
Next week, Skepta’s Air Max 97/BW SK will release via Nike SNEAKRS STASH in Paris on May 14. App users who find hidden locks that replicate the ones in Skepta’s design will open access to purchase.
On May 19 the shoe will see a wider release at locations in Paris including Pigalle, The Broken Arm, Starcow, Shinzo, Acte 2, SNS, and Footpatrol. The Air Max 97/BW SK will also be available digitally via SNEAKRS Europe and SNKRS Japan. Select retailers like Patta, Très Bien, Concepts, and more will carry the shoe globally.
According to END, Skepta’s Air Max 97/BW will retail for $235.
Source: Nike
