Nike released the new exciting Apollo 11th 50th Anniversary sneakers this July. The new NASA collaborations have become a new partnership between science and the sneaker giant, making the sneakers a popular buy during seasonal sales and upcoming Black Friday sales alike. Meanwhile, the 1972 Nike “Moon Shoe” was recently sold at Sotheby’s for over $400,000. This year has truly been an epic year for lunar fans and Nike.
New Nike Apollo 11th 50th Anniversary Sneaker Release
The new Nike PG 3 NASA 50th has signature features like a sleek shiny silver design, the iconic NASA patches on the heel and tongue, and a patch for Apollo 11 featuring prominently on the left tongue. The imprint of the shoes represents the surface of the moon.
The shoe has a unique black and white lunar-inspired treatment on the soles. The reflective silver colorway gives the shoes a unique “space-inspired” style. The sneaker has some noticeable new features like 3M reflective mesh paneling.
The Nike sneaker has the usual comfort, stability, and balance customary for all Nike sneakers. For an ultimate geek-out, wear the sneakers with the LeBron Kobe HoopSwagg DEEP SPACE Nike Socks. These intergalactic socks feature a purple and blue galaxy pattern, black heel, and iconic black Nike swoosh. It might be space explorer fan overkill, but is well worth it.
Sotheby’s Sells Record-breaking 1972 Nike “Moon Shoe”
Sotheby’s sold the pair of Waffle Racing Flats (“Moon Shoes”) was sold recently for $437,000 to a Canadian collector named Miles Nadal. The record-breaking sale makes this sale of Moon Shoes the most expensive sneakers ever sold at an auction in the world. Guinness World Record holder Jodry Geller, who has the largest collection of sneakers in the world, previously own the trainers. Only a handful of these shoes exist.
The unique quilted-sole shoe was inspired by Coach Bill Bowerman’s waffle iron. The pattern left a unique “moon print” when the runner used them. The 1972 Nike shoe then became popularly known as the “moon shoe”. Only a dozen pairs of the shoes were made for the 1972 Olympic trials. The pair that sold at Sotheby’s did not have any wear. Reportedly, no athlete ever used the shoes.
Miles Nadal had acquired the other ninety-nine pairs of the coveted limited-edition Nike Adidas, Yeezy, and Air Jordan shoe collection. However, the moon shoes had several bidders and in the end the single pair cost half as much as the entire collection. Geller shared that he was “honored” to pass the shoes off to another passionate sneaker collector:
“I view sneakers as much more than shoes, I think of them as art. They’re a perfect showcase of history – and what Miles Nadal has purchased is indeed a historic artifact. It represents the root of the Nike company, and its longstanding culture.”
This renaissance at the cross section of sneaker fans and science lovers promises to launch a new era in sneaker fashion.
