Fresh Mint Accents Meet Iconic Design DNA
More than 30 years after the Nike Air Max 95 was first introduced, it has remained a must-have silhouette for sneakerheads. The design is famously inspired by human anatomy: The lacing system represents ribs, the layered upper is modeled on muscle tissue and the segmented sole is inspired by the vertebrae of the spine.
The Nike Air Max 95 OG was also the first Nike sneaker to feature visible Air units (in the forefoot and heel) and a black midsole (to disguise dirt).
Both those elements feature prominently in the latest "Black/Mint" colorway. The Air units carry a hint of mint, while the black sole is the starting point for a color gradient that runs from black to grey up the side panels. Mint highlights on the lace loops, tongue logo and Swoosh branding get extra pop from the dark base — and the gradient is an OG design feature. Designer Sergio Lozano wanted to convey a sense of "perfect product...unearthed by erosion."
If you find the "Black/Mint" colorway somehow familiar, it's because it is effectively a tribute to the OG Air Max 95 colorway. Sneakerheads will recall that the original "Neon" Air Max 95 featured a black-to-gray gradient with neon highlights. The "Black/Mint" rendition essentially swaps out the bright neon accents for a more soothing mint green.