It is a mythical pair that Nike reintroduces these days: the Air Max BW. The Swoosh celebrates the 30th anniversary of the silhouette with the reissue of its colorway OG "Persian Violet", the opportunity for us to tell you the history of this pair anchored in the French street culture, considered the big sister of the famous Air Max Plus nicknamed "shark".

The sharp design of Nike

The Air Max BW was launched in 1991. Designed by Tinker Hatfield, it stands out from its predecessors by what its acronym implies, short for "Big Window" which symbolizes the most visible air bubble.

Featuring a combination of mesh, leather and suede, the BW is also characterized by the presence of neoprene on the collar and tongue for a padded look, as well as unusual color combinations for the time. The "Persian Violet", with its singular blue/purple color scheme, is definitely the most iconic of the lot.

Symbol of street culture

Talk to a French sneakerhead who grew up in the 90s, and chances are the first silhouette that caught their eye was the BW. While many other Air Maxes have been more successful, the BW has made its mark by being adopted by the street, the real one.

 
The BWis the first pair connoted "street" in France. In this, it is often considered as the big sister of the Shark, which will arrive only seven years later. Like the TN, it is one of those silhouettes that saw France free itself from the US, whose tastes it followed until then, allowing it to forge its own street culture.

A comeback signed "Persian Violet

Defeated by the shark in the heart of the street, the BW has seen its connotation fade and become more democratic afterwards. If the artist Stash and the rapper Skepta have made inspired collabs, it has always remained in the shadow of the flagship silhouettes of the Air Max range. 

For its 30th anniversary, Nike offers a well-deserved return. Five years after its last appearance, the OG version "Persian Violet" launches the festivities in a new edition very faithful to the original, while we expect thereafter a color "Marina" or a City Pack paying tribute to the city of Lyon. No doubt that the Swoosh still keeps some under the elbow.