Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman’s handmade Moon Shoe is being reinterpreted for the first time — through a collaboration with French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus, who has reimagined the iconic silhouette for a new generation.

Sleek and fashion-forward, the sneaker fuses sporty DNA with style, speed, and elegance. It channels the same relentless drive that defined the original: a racing shoe whose sole left crater-like imprints during testing at the 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials.

The redesigned Moon Shoe retains the look and feel of the first icon — Nike’s inaugural model featuring the legendary waffle sole — while adding modern details that elevate the silhouette and stay true to the brand’s running heritage.

‍

‍

The latest version pairs a ruched nylon upper with a Nike Regrind outsole. The result is a minimalist, ballet-inspired form with a sporty edge — a design that blends the clarity of Jacquemus’ Parisian aesthetic with the energy of Nike’s sporting legacy.

“Three years ago, when I visited the Nike archives, I first came across the historic Moon Shoe,” says Simon Porte Jacquemus. “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 silhouette is finished with a leather Swoosh, a reinforced heel cap, and Jacquemus branding on the tongue, heel, and insole. Each pair comes in exclusive co-branded packaging that nods to Nike’s earliest days as Blue Ribbon Sports.

The original Moon Shoe was born from Bowerman’s search for a lightweight traction solution for athletes. Inspiration struck in his own kitchen, where his wife’s waffle iron revealed the raised grid pattern he had been chasing.

By pouring liquid rubber into the appliance, he created a prototype sole unlike any before it — the foundation of what would later be known as the Moon Shoe.

‍

‍

While a small batch of pairs appeared at the 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials, the Moon Shoe never went to market. Its DNA, however, quickly carried over into the Oregon Waffle (1973) and the Waffle Trainer (1975) — Nike’s first major commercial success, offering athletes improved traction and redefining expectations for running performance.

The new Moon Shoe marks the fourth footwear collaboration between Nike and Jacquemus, following the Air Max 1, the J Force 1, and the Air Humara. Most recently, in the summer of 2024, the partners set new benchmarks with a Paris collection and campaign that spotlighted Nike athletes.

‍

‍

The contemporary Moon silhouette, first unveiled at the Jacquemus Spring 2025 runway show in Paris, is releasing in three colorways: an exclusive Alabaster edition at Jacquemus, alongside Off Noir and University Red.

The Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoe will launch on September 29 at select Nike retailers. Keep an eye on our Sneaker Releases.

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

Photos via Nike