Nike x Jacquemus Launch Moon Shoe Inspired by 1972 Original

Nike has given its legendary Moon Shoe a dynamic new twist for 2025, joining forces with French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus to reinterpret the iconic silhouette as a contemporary design object. This collaboration honors Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, the original innovator behind the Moon Shoe, a sneaker that revolutionized running in the early 1970s.

A New Look for an Icon

The new Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoe bridges heritage and innovation, bringing together performance engineering and high-fashion minimalism. Sleek, fashion-forward, and imbued with the spirit of racing, Jacquemus took inspiration from the shoe’s historic imprint at the 1972 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, a “crater” footprint created by Bowerman’s homemade waffle sole. His 1972 prototype, one of Nike’s first shoes, never went to market but laid the technical foundation for blockbuster hits like the Oregon Waffle (1973) and Waffle Trainer (1975).

Contemporary Design, Classic Soul

The restyled Moon Shoe maintains the look and functionality of the original, including a reimagined waffle sole, now built with Nike Grind sustainable material. The upper is given an elevated, ruched nylon treatment, blending racing roots with a modern ballet-inspired silhouette. The shoe’s torpedo shape allows for a low, fast ride close to the ground, reflecting both Jacquemus’ pared-back Parisian design philosophy and Nike’s dynamic sport heritage.

Key features include:

• Ruched nylon upper for lightweight flexibility and movement

• Leather Swoosh and heel counter

• Nike Grind (recycled content) outsole

• Jacquemus branding on tongue, heel, and sock liner

• Special co-branded Blue Ribbon Sports heritage packaging, a nod to Nike’s pre-Swoosh era

• Metal lace tips and minimalist finishes

A Story of Innovation

Bowerman’s search for a better grip and lighter weight led him to breakthrough experimentation with his wife’s waffle iron: pouring liquid rubber to create a new kind of sole pattern. The Moon Shoe debuted to athletes at the 1972 Olympic Trials, instantly recognizable by its lattice-patterned outsole and minimal construction—a model that never sold to the public but influenced a generation of running shoes.

Jacquemus: A Minimalist Revolution for Nike

Simon Porte Jacquemus, after encountering the Moon Shoe in the Nike archives, saw in its minimal silhouette an opportunity to connect past innovation with modern style. He said, “I saw a unique, minimal running shoe that was both timeless and modern in its simplicity and execution. I knew it was an opportunity to create a new story and reshape it in the Jacquemus way.”

This is Jacquemus’ fourth footwear collaboration with Nike, following celebrated drops like the Nike x Jacquemus Air Max 1, J Force 1, and Air Humara. The Moon Shoe first turned heads at his Spring 2025 Paris Fashion Week runway show.

Commercial Release and Colorways

For the launch, the Moon Shoe appears in three colorways:

• Alabaster: Jacquemus online exclusive

• Off Noir: SNKRS and select Nike stores

• University Red: SNKRS and select Nike stores

The release schedule:

• September 29: Available at jacquemus.com

• October 6: Available at SNKRS and select Nike retail stores.

Fashion Meets Function: Another Step for Nike and Jacquemus

From viral Paris campaigns to limited-edition launches, Jacquemus and Nike keep rewriting both the rules and the narrative of modern sneaker collaborations. Each Moon Shoe arrives in exclusive co-branded packaging—a collector’s detail that connects contemporary culture to Nike’s earliest legacy as Blue Ribbon Sports.

Explore more and purchase directly at jacquemus.com, SNKRS, and Nike.com. Every innovation, collaboration, campaign, and historical detail above is hyperlinked for deep reading, immersive archives, or direct shopping.