Nike’s iconic Moon Shoe, originally hand-built by co-founder Bill Bowerman, has been reborn for a new era through a fresh collaboration with French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus. Known for his minimalist yet avant-garde Parisian aesthetic, Jacquemus reinterprets the historic silhouette, bridging sport heritage with high fashion in a contemporary sneaker designed for speed, style, and sophistication.
The new Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoe fuses the original’s racing roots with a modern ballet-inspired aesthetic, resulting in a low-to-the-ground “torpedo” silhouette. The shoe retains the waffle sole that first defined Nike’s revolutionary running footwear while introducing luxurious updates such as a ruched nylon upper, leather Swoosh and heel counter, and co-branded Jacquemus logos on the tongue, heel, and sock liner.
“Three years ago, when I visited the Nike archives, I first came across the historic Moon Shoe,” Jacquemus recalls. “I saw a unique, minimal running shoe that was both timeless and modern in its simplicity. It was an opportunity to tell a new story in the Jacquemus way.”
Originally conceived in the early 1970s, the Moon Shoe was inspired by the grid pattern of Bowerman’s wife’s waffle iron, providing lightweight traction for athletes at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials. While the shoe itself never reached the commercial market, its DNA evolved into the Waffle Trainer, Nike’s first major running success that redefined athletic footwear.
Today’s Moon Shoe is the fourth collaboration between Nike and Jacquemus, following the Air Max 1, J Force 1, and Air Humara. The new iteration debuted on Jacquemus’ Spring 2025 Paris runway and will launch commercially in three styles: the Jacquemus-exclusive Alabaster, Off Noir, and University Red.
The Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoe becomes available exclusively on jacquemus.com from September 29, before launching at SNKRS and select Nike stores worldwide on October 6. This release not only celebrates a heritage silhouette but also cements a new benchmark in the intersection of performance, luxury, and design – a must-have for collectors and style connoisseurs alike.
