It’s been a minute. 

As March approaches, and Nike gear up for another chock-a-block month of Air Max releases, fans of the 90 can finally let out a collective sigh of relief: after 17 years in the proverbial freezer, the boys from Beaverton are finally defrosting the Nike Air Max 90 DQM Bacon. And in 2021 they’re coming up extra crispy. 

Taking visual inspiration from the quintessential breakfast* food, the pair first aired in 2004 as a collaboration with New York skate/ sneaker institution DQM. Revived in its unmistakable palette, the premium retro consists of a closer to bone-white leather upper, tan leather lining, red suede overlays, a pink swoosh, visible air sole unit, and brown tooling. As the old saying goes: “If it ain’t broke–.” 

Aside from keeping things ticking over at his vodka distillery in Chelsea, enigmatic and influential New York native/ creative Dave Ortiz (as in DQM, Dave’s Wearhouse, Crazee Dave’s & more Dave Ortiz) has been keeping a relatively low profile on the sneaker scene. It’s rumoured that when Absolut Vodka approached him for his current role back in 2013, Ortiz genuinely thought he was being Punk’d by his buddy, Ashton Kutcher. Fair enough we reckon, but fingers crossed if/ when Nike hit him up for their next collab, he’s more attune to the situation. 

According to GOAT, the 2021 Nike Air Max 90 Bacon drops March 20. Keep an eye out for updates via Nike SNKRS or do things the old fashioned way and check in with your local sneaker boutique. It’s what Dave would do.