Jacquemus reimagines Nike’s first waffle sole running shoe in fourth collab

Nike has once again joined forces with Jacquemus, this time to reimagine Nike’s iconic ‘Moon Shoe’, its first ever waffle sole innovation developed for running.

The original Moon Shoe, so called due to the crater-like imprint it left with every step during testing for the 1972 US Olympic Track & Field Trials, was born from Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman’s search for a lightweight traction solution that could give track athletes better grip without weighing them down.

The new interpretation with French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus and his eponymous fashion brand is described as “sleek and fashion forward”, bridging performance heritage and style.

It features a ruched nylon upper and Nike ‘Regrind’ outsole that blend the silhouette’s racing origins with a modern ballet aesthetic to create a contemporary, low to the ground ‘torpedo’ shoe “that reflects both the simplicity of Jacquemus’ Parisian design philosophy and the dynamism of Nike’s sport heritage”.

The silhouette features a leather Nike ‘Swoosh’ and heel counter, while Jacquemus logos adorn the tongue, heel and sock liner.

In a nod to the model’s history, the shoe comes in exclusive co-branded packaging that harks back to Nike’s earliest heritage as Blue Ribbon Sports – the original company founded by Bowerman and Phil Knight in 1964 before the company officially became Nike Inc. in 1971.

While a small batch of early models debuted at the 1972 US Olympic Trials, the Moon Shoe never went to market. However, its DNA was quickly adapted into the 1973 ‘Oregon Waffle’ and 1975 ‘Waffle Trainer’, the latter of which became Nike’s “first blockbuster success”, giving athletes improved grip and redefining expectations of running shoe performance.

Simon Porte Jacquemus said: “Three years ago, when I visited the Nike archives, I first came across the historic Moon Shoe. 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.”

The Moon Shoe is the fourth footwear collaboration between Nike and Jacquemus, following the Nike x Jacquemus ‘Air Max 1’, ‘J Force 1’ and ‘Air Humara’.

The contemporary Moon Shoe, which first debuted during Jacquemus’ SS25 runway show in Paris, takes on three distinct colours for its commercial release, including the Jacquemus-exclusive ‘Alabaster’ colourway, alongside ‘Off Noir’ and ‘University Red’.

The Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoe will be available from 29 September on the Jacquemus website (though a waiting list can be joined now), priced at £165, before launching across SNKRS and select Nike retail locations on 6 October.