Nike is no stranger to experimenting with 3D printing technology in sneaker design. The company first tried the concept with the VaporFly Elite Flyprint, which boasted a digitally fabricated upper. Now, Nike is taking things to the pinnacle with the introduction of its first fully 3D-printed sneaker: the Air Max 1000. A modern reimagination of the iconic Air Max 1 that kicked off the Air revolution back in 1987.
Nike has created the Air Max 1000 in collaboration with German manufacturer Zellerfeld, which specializes in 3D printing. The sneaker, achieved in partnership, debuted at the ComplexCon last year in Las Vegas, where it was teased in a solid bright red colorway. Now, almost nine months later, Nike is making the silhouette available – though briefly – to the public, and it arrives not in red, but Oat and Black colorways to choose from.
Designer: Nike x Zellerfeld
What do the two different color options entail? More on that below; first, let’s address the elephant in the room. Since its debut, Nike Air Max 1000 has been a matter of interest among sneakerheads and collectors for its experimental aesthetics and cutting-edge manufacturing technique. The latter, according to Nike, “uses less material than conventional” shoe-making methods, which should make the Air Max 1000 not just an inventive but also a sustainable choice for those who can get their feet into it at launch.
The limited public release is scheduled for August 19. Gear up if you are in tune with the idea of the technologically advanced version of the Air Max 1: The first Nike shoe with the visible air cushion heel in the midsole. That visible Air unit in the heel is kept intact in the Air Max 100 as well. Although the air cushioning is available, it is not 3D printed. The rest of the shoe design, however, is created from a single molded piece of zellerFOAM TPU. The flexible material ensures there are no visible stitching marks and glue lines, but the web-like upper and angular midsole make the sneaker look straight out of the future.
The single-piece streamlined Air Max 1000 is designed to remain sturdy and supportive, while the flexible material will ensure it does not feel stiff on the feet. It will be available in two colors, the Black option version – limited to only 300 units will go live on Zellerfeld’s website on August 19, while the Oat option will be strictly available through a 10-minute draw on Nike’s SNKRS app the same day. The Air Max 1000 “Oat” has a muted beige look with an orange rendered in the heel. The Black silhouette has a visible Air unit defined on the midsole in electric green. Nike suggests that, due to the limitations of 3D printing, the sneakers will be released in limited numbers only, but that doesn’t curtail the number of fans waiting in anticipation.
The post Hotly pursued 3D-printed Nike Air Max 1000 “Oat” and “Black” to release on August 19 first appeared on Yanko Design.