Nike and Zellerfeld Push the Air Max 1000 to New Levels with Two-Tone 3D Printing

Nike and Zellerfeld took the sneaker industry by surprise with the Air Max 1000, adding a functional Air Max bubble to a 3D-printed sneaker for the first time ever. Now, as the leaders in 3D-printed footwear continue to expand the molded footprint to minor brands and celeb vanity projects, Nike is upping the game all over again.

Announced with prototype designs in black and purple, the Nike Air Max 1000 Multi-Color is the next step in 3D-printed footwear innovation, adding two colors to a single shoe. So far, we’ve only seen monochrome colorways of the Air Max 1000, and for good reason, with the printed shoe forming in one motion, making it difficult to add multiple tones to the mix.

In the photos from the prototype construction, you can see various levels of color added throughout a black base, with Sharpie marks designating the middle chunk of the shoe, presumably to mark where the color stripe is planned.

“Zellerfeld’s multicolor 3D printing technology makes this possible at scale, enabling zonal color control across the entire geometry of the silhouette,” Nike detailed. “This innovation breakthrough turns footwear into a programmable canvas, allowing designers to sculpt color with the same precision as form.”

The Nike Air Max 1000 Multi-Color is expected to release later in 2026, though exactly when is a mystery right now. Expect a drop through Nike SNKRS and/or Zellerfeld. For all the latest 3D-printed sneaker news and release info, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.

Zach Harris

Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com