March 17

NIKE MOON SHOES: THE ICONIC OLYMPIC SHOE FROM 1972, AT AUCTION FROM $150,000

Posted by Héctor Rubio on March 17, 2021 in trail running spain | Leave a comment

NIKE MOON SHOES: The iconic field shoe through 1972, auctioned from $150,000 at Sotheby’s. Our ATHLETICS section celebrates today a classic born 39 years ago, which could set a new world record in sports shoe auctions, after the $427,500 paid in 2019 for the last pair.

The shoe was designed by Nike co-founder and former University of Oregon athletics coach Bill Bowerman. He designed the brand’s now iconic outsole, playing with his wife’s waffle machine. It premiered at the 1972 Olympics.

NIKE MOON SHOES: THE ICONIC OLYMPIC SHOE FROM 1972, AT AUCTION FROM $150,000

These “Nike Moon Shoes” were once pioneering shoes, handmade one by one. It is a fundamental piece in the legend of Nike’s creation, of which it is estimated that they do not exist beyond a dozen the world. Logically, when one like this appears at Sotheby’s, investors in this type of collectible shoe are swooping.

Nike founder Bill Bowerman, as reflected in numerous films, poured rubber into his wife’s waffle mold during his tests to discover how to achieve a better rubber compound for the sole. This purely casual method used for the prototype became the brand’s first major innovation. Thanks to the lugs, the shoe was better cushioned and had more traction than any other alternative to run, then on the market.

This particular unit has an expecial value, as it was hand-finished by one of Nike’s first employees, Geoff Hollister. He used the legendary two-piece sole unit instead of a more contemporary unique piece, as Nike did not then have the way to do this.

To finish, as you can see below, it doesn’t carry anywhere the word Nike: You only see a great “Swoosh” the brand’s new logo, adopted just a few months earlier, in May 1971. It was the work of Carolyn Davidson, who received $85 as a one-time payment for his work. The logo is a special external piece, hand-sewn, and the cover is made up of a very aged white nylon, as you can see in the detail of the photo.

NIKE MOON SHOES: SOLD ON JUL 2019 FOR $427,500 USD

The name “Nike Moon Shoes” came from the curious marks on earth left by these shoes and their resemblance to the footprints left on the moon on the 1969 landing. The last previous issue was sold in July 2019 also at Sotheby’s for $427,500 USD.

This is the world price record for sneakers to this day. They are followed by the $190,373 paid in 2017 by the Converse pair of sneakers, which Michael Jordan wearing in the 1984 Olympic final in Los Angeles. The one in which the legendary original Dream Team faced Spain, beating her 96-65.

NIKE MOON SHOES AT SOTHEBY’S.

The official description of these shoes, for the next buyer, has its own interest.
The Nike “Moon Shoe” is one of the most important artifacts in the history of the multibillion-dollar multimillion-dollar sports brand. One of a small group of pairs known to exist, this Moon Shoe is a handmade running shoe designed by Nike co-founder and legendary University of Oregon athletics coach Bill Bowerman.

As the famous story tells, Bowerman was first inspired to create the innovative waffle-like outsole traction pattern found in the brand’s first running shoes, playing with his wife’s waffle iron, pouring rubber into the mold to create the first prototype of the sole. The finished design of the traction pattern created better grip and cushioning than most running shoes of the time, and the waffle sole was Nike’s first major innovation as a brand.

The Moon Shoe owes its name to the resemblance between the impression left by the waffle pattern on earth and the famous footprints left on the moon by astronauts in 1969.

Original handcrafted moon shoe by one of Nike’s first employees, Geoff Hollister.
Moon Shoes made its first major debut in the 1972 Olympic events.
White nylon upper with hand-sewn black Swooshes with fishing thread.
Two-piece waffle soles, as Nike did not yet have the technology to produce a single piece.
The shear marks of the manual cut are visible around the outer perimeter of the rubber sole.
Specially modified midsoles that add additional cushioning.
No Nike company labels; the only brand is the Swoosh.
This part is final sale and is not eligible for return.