One of the first pairs made by Nike Inc shattered the record for a pair of sneakers at public auction, by selling for $437,500. The “Moon Shoe”, bought by Canadian investor and car collector Miles Nadal (who had previously paid $850,000 for 99 other pairs of rare or limited collection sneakers as well), was designed by Nike co-founder and track coach Bill Bowerman for 1972 Olympics runners.
The purchase broke the previous record, which was $190,373 in 2017 for a pair of signed Converse sneakers said to have been worn by Michael Jordan. Reuters has the details:
Sotheby’s, better known for selling art works fetching tens of millions of dollars, teamed up with streetwear marketplace Stadium Goods to auction 100 pairs of the rarest sneakers ever produced in a venture that reflects their fast-growing status as collectibles.
The handmade “Moon Shoe,” with a waffle sole pattern, was one of only 12 pairs ever made and the pair that were auctioned on Tuesday are the only ones known to exist in an unworn condition, Sotheby’s said.
Nadal, the founder of investment firm Peerage Capital, said in a statement he was thrilled at his purchase, calling the “Moon Shoe” a “true historical artifact in sports history and pop culture.”
image credit: Sotheby via Reuters