Be it sneakerinas or viral collabs, there is seldom a time where trainers aren’t at the forefront of fashion conversation. Countless pairs flood our feeds on the daily, and recently, there seems to be a shift in shape. Buzzy trainer styles are narrow, running inspired silhouettes in bold colourways – see Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66’s, Puma Speedcats and Adidas Taekwondos – and there is one trainer that we keep seeing everywhere that fits this brief. We are predicting that the must-have shoe for the season ahead is *drumroll* - the Nike Air Superfly.
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To celebrate 25 years of the shoe, the Nike Air Superfly was reissued in January this year. Amongst the heady backdrop of sportswear and athleisure in the 1990s, the Nike Air Superfly was somewhat forgotten about. However, as Y2K trends show no signs of slowing in their resurgence, brands are revisiting their archives and are opting to re-release styles from yesteryear to attract a new audience. As present-day customers are looking for trainers which combine both style and substance, the revival of the Superfly aligns with how people are shopping for trainers now. The new model from Nike showcases technical performance materials in an on-trend shape, combining perforated leather and suede on a slim, yet bouncy sole, creating a skin tight silhouette that is lightweight, sleek and versatile.
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Rachel Makar, Senior Merchandising Director at reselling site StockX discusses why there was no better time for Nike to re-release the trainer. 'The Air Superfly revival showcases a savvy fusion of heritage and modern style. By reimagining these iconic silhouettes, Nike not only taps into the nostalgia of longtime fans but also resonates with today’s sporty-chic aesthetic, capturing the attention of a new generation drawn to vintage-inspired fashion. As a result, we anticipate a notable uptick in trades for each of these models.'
Thomasin Hummerstone, Director of Footwear Product Creation and Women’s Sportswear at NIKE tells ELLE UK how releasing the Air Superfly in 2025 was a true passion project for the sportswear behemoth: 'We saw how trends were morphing and going low-profile - we wanted to enter this space with a Nike-only point of view. We found inspiration in the Air Superfly which has remained relatively untouched since its inception, and its last crossover in the sport and fashion space was when we partnered with Junya Watanabe for Commes des Garcons in 2001. Almost 25 years later, it felt like the perfect time to reintroduce this silhouette.'
Nike have launched the Air Superfly in a range of colours, cleverly featuring the season’s most popular colour trends; think butter yellow and pillarbox red styles which are monochromatic from lace to sole. There is also a mint-choc-chip colourway, and for the minimalist, there is classic all-white. We will soon see the release of the 'Cyber' colourway, too – a bright take on the Air Superfly with neon yellow accents.
One particular colour that is seeming to reign supreme for the Air Superfly is silver and black. Recently spotted on Kendall Jenner at Coachella, this pair are proving themselves a favourite with dedicated followers of fashion, and well as industry insiders.
Rosa Weait, a London based fashion assistant, talks about how her Superflys are a versatile addition to her wardrobe, but still make an impact. 'In the era of the thin trainer, last year the Samba dominated my wardrobe, but this year, I wanted a fresh everyday style that I hadn’t seen a million times over. The Air Superfly proved to be the perfect fit. They are not chunky, they’re comfy and the touch of silver poking out from below my jeans adds some funk to my everyday fits.'
Polly Dodds, who works at fashion and lifestyle PR firm Village, invested in some Air Superflys after seeing them crop up on her Instagram feed. 'I first spotted them on the likes of @juicegee, and kept seeing all the cool girls wearing them. When I realised the price point was quite accessible, I decided to buy them. I have quite a tomboy-ish personal style and the metallic pair are a fun way to add a bit of girly sparkle to my outfit - I’m wearing them right now with baggy camo pants.'
With NET-A-PORTER customer searches for Nike Air Superfly sneakers increasing by a staggering 300% in the last month, there is no better time to purchase a pair.
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