The Nike Air Max 90 “Racing” Reenacts The “Purple Pigeon” (2025)

Given the sheer scale of Nike’s operation, oftentimes mainline editions can rise above the crowd just out ofproximity to coveted looks. The “Purple Pigeon” SB Dunk Low is a perfect test case, certainly owing part of its sky-high grey market price to the era in which it was created, but also for its use of the totemic color-blocking from Jeff Staple’s creation. In a bit of dramatic irony, nearly two decades after that shoe hit the shelves, the Air Max 90 is cheating off its notes, ushering in a “Purple Pigeon” style look of “Iron Grey” and “Wild Grape.”

Of course, you’ll need to allow for a bit of creative license in adapting the 2006 edition to the Air Max 90, in no small part due to the compositional differences between the models. Steely grey overlays and a royally-shaded Swoosh do much of the heavy lifting in achieving the look-alike profile, with the joined jet black mudguard and midsole adding some stealthy flair to this interpretation. Look to the interior for the other half of this shoe’s narrative, the racing-inspired branding that’s spawned a long string of similarly themed editions. With none of that crowd hitting retail yet, the story that inspired this high-velocity family is largely still opaque, but its central aesthetic remain compelling all the same.

The Nike Air Max 90 “Racing” in this “Iron Grey/Wild Grape” colorway should be hitting shelves as we work through the Summer 2025 shopping season. Be ready for a $140 retail price upon arrival, and keep our Sneaker Release Dates page within reach for further updates.

Matt Varga is an Editor at SneakerNews. Initially earning a degree in Video Arts and Technology, he got his start in video editing and writing in the music world — primarily on hip-hop and electronic. A long-standing interest in sneakers led him to switching over to footwear. An avid collector, his favorite sneaker of all time comes down to either the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” and Air Jordan 5 “Laney,” his first ever pick-ups. When he’s not writing, you can find Matt cooking, traveling, attending concerts and when weather permits, on the handball court.

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