Charlotte Favreau

The Nike Air Max 1000, a New Breath of Innovation for Nike

20 November 2024

4 minutes

The line wrapped twice around the pop-up store. Thousands of visitors were ready to explore immersive booths, musical performances and exclusive collaborations. ComplexCon 2024 once again confirmed its status as a must-attend event. From Saturday November 16 to 17, 2024, the ninth edition attracted millions of visitors who came to celebrate innovation, creativity and the boldest collaborations.

Created in 2016 by the bimonthly Complex, ComplexCon has become much more than a convention. Located in Los Angeles, at the Long Beach Convention Center, the event offered a cultural crossroads where art, music, fashion and more converge for a weekend. This year, Nike established itself as a key player at ComplexCon, choosing to showcase an unprecedented display of its innovations. At the heart of this presentation, one novelty caught everyone's attention: the Nike Air Max 1000, a groundbreaking pair combining heritage, technology and forward-thinking design.

The Nike Air Max 1000 Redefines Standards

The Nike Air Max 1000 doesn't just carry on the legacy of the Air Max range, it stands as a true futuristic vision. Inspired by the iconic Air Max 1, this new design revisits its look through 3D printing technology and features a monobloc TPU upper, for an aesthetic that is both smooth and textured. The iconic elements of the Nike Air Max 1 are reimagined to make way for a wavy mudguard, while a Swoosh is subtly embossed on the side. The Air unit is placed under the heel for optimal comfort and cushioning.

Designed in partnership with Zellerfeld, a pioneer in advanced 3D printing, the design pushes the boundaries of traditional manufacturing for a fluid, expressive and optimized result. John Hoke, Nike's Chief Innovation Officer, shared his enthusiasm for this innovative model: "What excites me most about the Air Max 1000 is the new solutions we can achieve through next-level manufacturing. It's a blend of control, precision and expression, all of which are essential to sport and design. When those variables are multiplied at the same time, the future of our product feels limitless."

Unveiled as part of the Air Max 1000 experience, the pair was showcased in numerous colorways, allowing visitors to dive into the universe of this groundbreaking shoe. From the history of Air technology, featuring original prototypes, to a vibrant tribute to the work of Frank Rudy, inventor of the encapsulated air system, everything was designed to amaze and inspire. And while a few lucky visitors got the chance to win the "Red" colorway, no release date has been announced. However, the launch of the first silhouettes will take place in 2025 and could coincide with the next Air Max Day, alongside the Nike Air Max DN8. A little more patience!