AMERICAN sportswear brand Nike is stepping to the reggae beat.

The company recently released its new line of Air brand of sneakers, inspired by reggae and other genres of music.

The new Nike Air Max 270 React line introduces five new colour schemes, completely reimagined by five vibrant music genres: hip hop, heavy metal, reggae, punk rock, and electronic dance music. According to Nike, “the reggae style upholds a calm, rhythmic nature with earthy tones like white, green and tan”.

The hip hop sneakers rocks a black on black panelling look, which stands for “activism, love and rage needed for change”. The heavy metal shoe includes a metallic Nike Swoosh against deeper shades of blue, purple, and black, and a splash of green. Punk rock is classic and clean, with a signature black and white contrast perfect for the show. EDM makes for the brightest shoe, incorporating shades of red, pink and crimson to represent the exciting thrill of the scene.

Each pair of sneakers costs US$150.

This is not the first time Nike is paying homage to Jamaica and its culture. The brand has a classic Nike Air in the colours of the Jamaican flag.

Started in 1964, Nike is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, in Portland. It is the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel and a major manufacturer of sports equipment, with revenue in excess of US$24.1 billion in its fiscal year 2012.

— Richard Johnson