After Michel Jordan’s autographed shoes, Sotheby’s has auctioned another historic pair of Nike sneakers. On Wednesday, the renowned auction company opened an online bid for a pair of Nike’s Waffle Spike shoes that were handcrafted by none other than brand’s co-founder and University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman!
Bill curated these sneakers for the University of Oregon’s runner, John Mays. What makes them special is the fact that these are the first and the ONLY pair of shoes Bill has ever created. With its bid closing on 26th June, these waffle sneakers are estimated to sell between $130,000 to $150,000.
Made from scratch in the early ‘70s when Nike went by its original name Blue Ribbon Sports, these sneakers have 14 hand-punched lace holes, with May’s name written on the heels. These shoes bear mismatched soles as the right shoe has a waffle sole and white strip that Bowerman added in ’74. Post this adjustment, these shoes were never worn again.
(Image Source- Official Website of Sotheby's)
(Image Source- Official Website of Sotheby's)
Sotheby’s director stated that after Jordan 1, Waffle Spike shoes were ‘most appropriate’ follow up. “We’re thrilled to offer this grail — created by one of the greatest innovators in shoe ingenuity and design, made even more special by the fact that they are consigned by John Mays himself. The pair speaks volumes to Bill’s need to constantly innovate, showing multiple layers of modifications, including the addition of a waffle sole on the right shoe — an elemental design that Nike still uses today,” as stated by an online website Women’s Wear Daily.
(Image Source- Official Website of Sotheby's)
Waffle’s consignor Mays commented that even though he never paid attention to Bill’s business endeavors, he was happy and excited to be of help for testing these shoes. “Bill had me test the shoes by running in them during practice and in meets. I gave him feedback about the feel of the shoes; if they were comfortable, if the footplate was too hard, if they tore and where. As seen in the accompanying letter, he left me notes to tell me what type of workouts he wanted me to put the shoes through. Bill continued to make revisions on the sprint shoes, even to the point of writing my name on them. Eventually, I wore them in the NCAA Track and Field Championships and the 1972 Olympic Trials in Eugene. It’s a pleasure to be offering these historic shoes at Sotheby’s,” he said.
(Source –WWD, official website of Sotheby's)
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