Nike Moon Shoe
DNA Artifacts
The one that started it all. In 1971 Nike rebranded from Blue Ribbon Sports while simultaneously taking its first giant leap into the world of footwear production. For years co-founder Bill Bowerman had been obsessed with improving his athlete’s footwear. One day while at home he caught notice of his wife’s waffle iron and was instantly inspired by the grid pattern that sat before him. He quickly began to experiment by pouring liquid urethane into the waffle iron. His first effort didn’t pan out as expected but lit a fire in him that would lead to continuous attempts until he finally got it right. This unwavering drive birthed the Moon Shoe, given its nickname for the crater-like imprints that it left in the ground. The Moon Shoe never saw a widespread release but was debuted on athletes at the 1972 Olympic Marathon trials introducing the recently renamed brand to the world of athletic footwear, setting the stage for decades of continuous innovation.
Nike Moon Shoe
DNA Artifacts
Although the Nike Moon Shoe did not see a large scale release, it’s believed that a very limited run of pairs were available for purchase in the fall of 1972 at Nike’s Athletic Department store in Eugene. The pair pictured above was from the same production batch that was said to have been sold in Eugene.
The Original Waffle Iron
DNA Artifacts
Known by many as the “Holy Grail” of Nike footwear innovation is the original waffle iron that Bill Bowerman used to first test his “waffle sole” idea. The waffle iron was a wedding present given to the Bowerman family in 1936 which was used up until the day on which it was permanently glued shut following the Bill Bowerman’s initial unsuccessful attempt. For years the waffle iron was considered gone until 2010 when Bill’s son Tom, while conducting renovations, suddenly found it alongside early test pairs in a backyard rubbish pit.
Nike Moon Shoe – Rubbish Pit
DNA Artifacts
In 2010, a few prototype pairs were found alongside the waffle iron that was unearthed from the Bowerman rubbish pit. One of the pairs discovered was an original Moon Shoe sample pictured above.
Nike Moon Shoe – Athlete Pairs
DNA Artifacts
Most of the early Moon Shoe variations were worn by athletes around Oregon and during the 1972 Olympic trials. Above are a few varying initial pairs tested in Oregon.