The Air Max 95 may remain firmly in the limelight coming off its 30th anniversary, but Nike is showing some love to one of the other most popular models in the series by incorporating the animal trend that’s become so pervasive in sneakers.
The Nike Air Max 90 Black Croc utilizes the reptilian texture as part of a larger leather takeover. Black leather with the croc treatment forms the majority of the paneling, including on the underlays that typically appear in mesh. The rubber panels are now rendered in leather as well while retaining their ribbing, appearing in black on the side walls and gray on the heel. Then matching that gray heel is a leather Swoosh with a slight glitter effect and tongue tag.
Nike just dropped an Air Force 1 Low with a matching treatment, which is just one of many sneakers to pop up recently with a croc look. Other entries have included the Air Max Muse, Adidas Superstar Predator, New Balance Allerdale and 991v1 and Vans Half Cab.
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Looking to the broader animal kingdom, the trend is even bigger with snakeskin-textured leather popping up routinely along with leopard, cheetah and cow prints, often on pony hair.
2027 will mark the 40th anniversary of the Air Max franchise, which began in 1987 with the Air Max 1 as the first sneaker to feature a visible Air unit. An early look at Nike’s plans for the occasion have come through the revelation of the “Lost Samples” pack, which will bring remixes to the original colorways of each of the Air Max 1, Air Max 90 and Air Max 95.
The Nike Air Max 90 Black Croc is out now on Nike’s website and through select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $145.
