Any discussion of the history of Air Max 95 OG colorways has to begin with the iconic Nike Air Max 95 OG "Neon" shoes. Released more than 10 times since it debuted in 1995, the "Neon" is the near-perfect showcase for the anatomy-inspired design and layered aesthetic that are key to the Air Max 95 silhouette.
Designer Sergio Lozano brought together three principal ideas for the Air Max 95. First, it's famously the first shoe to have a visible Nike Air unit in the forefoot (as well as the heel, which is an original Air Max 1 feature). Second, he drew inspiration from human anatomy, seeing the lacing system as ribs and the outsole as a spine, connected by the upper's suede and mesh "muscle fibers." Finally, a dark-to-light gray gradient from outsole to upper represented the earth's strata, giving a sense of the bones of an exhumed creature emerging from the soil.
That gradient also has additional design and performance elements, which are most obvious in the "Neon" colorway. The dark outsole and lighter upper naturally contrast with the neon green in the visible Air units and on the lacing system. And Lozano thought the dark outsole would help this runner's shoe hide wear and tear for longer.
Other Nike Air Max 95 original colorways take this concept and run with it in a rainbow of designs. Where the "Neon" looks futuristic to this day, the crisp blue-and-white strata of the "Slate" colorway make for a much more composed, elegant, even old-school style.
