After announcing plans for its first-ever fully 3D-printed shoe last year, Nike is now ready to take the next step into the future of footwear with the awaited release of the Air Max 1000.
The Nike Air Max 1000 is a groundbreaking project headed up by the Swoosh in partnership with Zellerfeld — the German company that’s changing the footwear game through fully 3D-printed, seamless designs that have already attracted attention from the likes of KidSuper and Moncler.
Nike first revealed the Air Max 1000 in November 2025 at the ComplexCon sneaker event, giving a select number of lucky attendees the chance to get hands-on with the design, where striking colourways of red, orange, and blue were revealed, alongside the “oat” and “black” versions that are scheduled to release this month.
Lead footwear designer Jake Scannapieco describes the 1000 as a “wearable sculpture”, referencing the perfect lines and symmetry achieved by Nike creating the physical product straight from a digital render, a process which allows the design team to represent their vision in the most faithful way possible, bypassing the restrictions associated with traditional means of production.
Clearly informed by the prototypical Air Max 1’s timeless shape, the 1000 builds on classic Air Max DNA with a “wholecut”, contoured shape that seamlessly blends the would-be mudguard into the upper body and sole.
Formal branding notes arrive on the heel with stacked “AIR” lettering, while mini Swooshes are applied to the forefoot and “AIR MAX 1000” lettering is printed on the air units.
The “black” and “oat” Air Max 1000s will release August 19th, retailing at $180 USD.
The black pair is available exclusively via Zellerfeld, while the ”oat” iteration is available to U.S.-based consumers on the SNKRS app. Both colourways are limited to 300 pairs.
