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Move over Speedcats, the Nike Moon Shoe is the it-shoe for Summer 2026. The low-profile silhouette has been spotted on everyone from Rihanna to Dua Lipa to BLACKPINK’S LISA.
The prototype for the shoe’s sole was developed way back in the ‘70s, when, in an attempt to help athletes achieve a better grip on his local track (but without weighing them down), the brand’s co-founder and DIY enthusiast Bill Bowerman got experimental and poured liquid rubber into his wedding present waffle iron.
A few months later, the brand re-released a new version, similar in style and sole to the original wearable Moon Shoe silhouette, in yellow, blue, and white. The release allowed the brand to tap into some of the hype the Jaquemus collaboration created and granted those who didn’t manage to get their hands on the Jaquemus model to cop a pair.
The style of sole that resulted (after much trial and error – many disintegrated underfoot) was worn by athletes at the 1972 US Olympic trials, and was dubbed the “Moon Shoe” due to the square-shaped, crater-esque marks they left in the ground. A similar sole was then used for the brand’s 1975 waffle trainer, the then-nascent company’s first megahit.
So, if it’s been doing the rounds since the 70s, why is the Nike Moon Shoe taking off (no pun intended) now?
£89.99
©Jacquemus
©Nike
£249.65
Low-profile shoes are having a moment. From Sambas to Speedcats to sneakerinas and sneaker mules, subtle, wearable trainers that prioritise the fabric upper over futuristic rubber and plastic are dominating womenswear right now.
The designer treatment didn't hurt either. In 2025, French designer Jacquemus collaborated with Nike on a reinterpretation of the old prototype, which he debuted for the first time since the ‘70s at his SS25 show in Paris. The Jaquemus version shares many similarities with the Moon Shoe prototype, but is more ballerina-esque in its lightweight rushing, is slightly lower-profile, and sports the Jaquemus logo.
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