Following their Humara and J Force 1 sneakers, the design partnership turns to Nike’s archives for a shoe originally made for the 1972 Olympic trials.
Summary
- The latest Jacquemus and Nike project is a revival of the Moon Shoe, the first silhouette created under the Nike name in 1972.
- This marks the first time the Moon Shoe, originally a prototype for Olympic runners, has been made available for a general release.
- The shoe will be available in three colorways, University Red, Off-Noir, and Alabaster, and retains the historic waffle-patterned gum sole.
Jacquemus and Nike are continuing their partnership with a shoe that dates back to the very beginning of the sportswear brand. Their latest project is the Moon Shoe, a silhouette from 1972 that stands as the first piece of footwear created under the Nike name. It has never been available to the public until now.
The collaboration between the French label and Nike began in 2022, mixing sportswear with ready-to-wear pieces inspired by vintage Nike ACG and campaigns from the 1990s. Their work has produced reinterpretations of the Humara trail shoe, the J Force 1, and the Air Max 1, alongside items like the “Le Swoosh” handbag and tracksuits. After more than a year since their last release, this new project returns to the archives.
The release includes three versions of the Moon Shoe. A University Red style is paired with white Swooshes and laces. An Off-Noir option also features white accents. The third is an Alabaster white with black branding. Each shoe is constructed with what appears to be a nylon base, suede overlays, and a leather Swoosh. An elastic band sits around the ankle, and the design is finished with a gum sole that has the signature waffle tread. The expected price is $180.
The original Moon Shoe was a prototype designed to introduce Bill Bowerman’s waffle sole. Only 12 pairs were made and given to runners for the 1972 Olympic trials. The technology was later refined for the Waffle Racer, which entered full production. The rarity of the original shoe is notable; in 2019, one of the 12 pairs sold for $437,500 at a Sotheby’s auction. While Nike has referenced the design in past models like the 2018 Moon Racer, this collaboration with Jacquemus is the first time the original silhouette has been offered for general sale.
