Nike Is Reportedly Bringing Back One of the First Shoes It Ever Made
One of the shoes that started it all for Nike is reportedly making a comeback.
Nike is planning to bring back the Moon Shoe, the 1972 running shoe that was the first to feature Bill Bowerman’s waffle sole, according to a report from Complex. The archival model will return with in-line colorways and a Jacquemus collaboration, which was quietly shown in January at the label’s Paris Fashion Week show. Releases could begin as early as the 2025 holiday season.
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“Moon Shoe” is technically just a nickname for the racing flat prototypes handmade by Geoff Hollister, one of Nike’s first employees, for the 1972 U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon. It introduced Nike’s first technological innovation through its waffle soles, named for Bowerman literally using a waffle press as a mold for the rubber.
It’s believed that only 12 pairs were made, one of which sold for a then-record $437,500 at auction in 2019. The shoe that would go on to release to the public was the Raffle Trainer in 1974.
Nike has never brought the Moon Shoe back in its true original form, although a version with noticeable differences released in 2004 and another iteration with crepe soles in 2009.
The return of the Moon Shoe could prove successful with the popularity of flat sneakers including the Adidas Samba, Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 and Puma Speedcat. Just this month, Nike revived its Air Superfly minimalist running shoe from the early aughts as a bid for the trend.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
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