Nike’s Air Force 1 Low sneakers have worn plenty of different looks over their 43-year history, but we’re still surprised to see their ‘Triple Black’ colourway enter The Matrix this year. Take a look at the new sneaker and other Matrix-inspired sneakers that came before it.
Nike Air Force 1 Low “Matrix”
The sci-fi classic has served as a muse for the Beaverton HQ design team, which means that the usual plain black leather AF1 has been amped up with glitchy green embroidery made to look like the digital rain code from the film. Even the insoles offer a nod to the theme with their distorted static graphics.
But stepping this far out of the norm is always going to stir up some chatter, and well, the Nike Air Force 1 Low “Matrix” certainly has. However, most of the complaints focus on the fact that they’re a kids-exclusive design, considering that “kids nowadays have no idea about this movie.” And we kind of agree with the masses.
The Matrix was first released in 1999, so anyone who was really into the film at that time would now be well into adulthood. Not to mention that the content of the movies isn’t aimed at children, so it does seem a bit odd to have a kids-exclusive design with this particular theme.
Hopefully, Nike will reconsider before releasing this AF1 design in fall 2025. But, till then, have a look at some older Matrix sneakers that target the film’s mature audience.
Nike Air Max 97 “Green Glow”
Nike tapped into the Matrix theme on the Air Max 97 silhouette not too long ago (2019, to be exact). The shoes feature black uppers with English text and Chinese characters trickling down the overlays, much like the Matrix digital rain code. Additionally, the shoe’s glow-in-the-dark outsole adds a green touch that complements the film’s signature palette. Even without the official collaboration, the link is still clear.
The Matrix x K-Swiss Classic 2000 “Matrix Code”
That same year (again, 2019), K-Swiss teamed with The Matrix to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film’s release. The highlight of their collection was a Classic 2000 sneaker made of black leather with debossed code patterns and green accents on the tongue, sides and sole. They even added a reference to the red and blue pills Morpheus offers Neo on the lace tips. It’s the little things that make this sneaker special.
Pull & Bear Matrix Sneakers
In 2020, Pull&Bear threw their hat into the ring with an entire Matrix-themed collection. Alongside all the cool apparel was a pair of black sneakers with panels of green code raining down the side and front of the shoe. Below, the sole unit features a translucent look with a green strip running along the middle.
PUMA X The Matrix XETIC Halflife
Though you may have missed it, PUMA teamed up with the franchise in 2022 to release a Matrix-inspired XETIC Halflife sneaker. The design is full of references to the movies, including red and blue pills at the heel, a black cat and white rabbit on the collars, plus croc-skin leather that resembles the material of Morpheus’ trench coat. This release slipped under the radar, but it’s a pretty solid collab for fans of the films.
Akedo x The Matrix High Top
Akedo is known for their fun, geek-chic sneaker collaborations, so it’s not unexpected that they’ve covered their canvas high-top sneakers with imagery from The Matrix, and twice at that. Both of their previous designs have sleek black uppers, but one pair wears the film’s green digital code, while the other pair offers mismatched red and blue coding inspired by the pills Neo is offered in the first film.
Osiris D3 2001 “Matrix”
Osiris chunky D3 sneakers also caught the Matrix bug. The design offers the signature black and green colour scheme with code-like patterns dressing the midfoot panels.
Nike Air Foamposite Pro “Matrix”
There’s hardly a theme the Foamposite’s hard shell doesn’t wear well, including the iconic green digital rain design inspired by The Matrix. Custom sneaker artist Smooth Tip created this chic design back in 2014, but it still looks just as cool by today’s standards.
Air Jordan 4 “Matrix”
Sneaker artist Kickasso Artistry added green coding to a pair of Jordan 4 Retro “11Lab4” sneakers back in 2015. The glossy patent leather uppers and hazy digital patterning make for a pretty ‘unreal’ look.
Air Jordan 6 “Matrix”
The Air Jordan 6 is no stranger to the big screen, having been seen on Michael Keaton’s feet in Batman Returns. But if you’ve ever wondered what a Matrix-inspired version of the model would look like, this concept is the answer. Black nubuck uppers with green accents certainly look good on the model.
Air Jordan 1 “Matrix”
This Jordan 1 concept enters “The Matrix” with a sleek black and green colourway and coding across the centre panels.
