Nike Enters The Loafer Game With The Air Max Phenomena

Ever since the viral New Balance 1906 loafer emerged at the top of 2024, we’ve seen countless other brands strive to have their own sneaker-loafer... © Sneaker News, 2025. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us The post Nike Enters The Loafer Game With The Air Max Phenomena appeared first on Sneaker News. The post Nike Enters The Loafer Game With The Air Max Phenomena appeared first on Sneaker News.

Ever since the viral New Balance 1906 loafer emerged at the top of 2024, we’ve seen countless other brands strive to have their own sneaker-loafer moments. Names like HOKA, Mizuno, Converse, and more have hopped on board, as has the world’s largest sneaker company in Nike Inc. Hot on the heels of a polarizing Jordan loafer, we’re now heading down the hall with an Air Max loafer that’s sure to be a hot topic (for better or worse).

Here we have the Nike Air Max Phenomena; a new model by Nike’s in-house Serena Williams Design Crew. Shown here for the first time by atmos creative head Hirofumi Kojima, the Phenomena pairs the sole of the newly-revived Air Max Sunder with an all-new loafer upper. Tumbled leather makes up the core of this black colorway, complemented by what appears to be a synthetic mudguard portion in “Cool Grey.” Added padding and a pull tab can be spotted around the heel, while “Metallic Silver” Swoosh logos land on the leather straps.

The Air Max Phenomena is a clear reflection of modern industry trends, but for what it’s worth, Nike has actually ventured into this territory before. Back when Nike owned Cole Haan (from 1988-2012), the brands collaborated on loafers, dress shoes, and more formal silhouettes featuring Air Max tech. While now of an often-forgotten part of footwear history, a quick eBay search still brings up tons of quirky inventions from the 90s and 2000s.

The Nike Air Max Phenomena doesn’t have a confirmed release date yet, but Kojima puts “coming soon” in the caption of his Instagram teaser. This “Black/Cool Grey/Metallic Silver” colorway is confirmed to land in women’s sizes; it remains to be seen if the model will be available for men. See detailed images below and stay tuned for further updates, including official images.