The Original Tom Sachs Nike Sneaker Suddenly Returns to Earth
After two years apart, Nike and Tom Sachs are officially back together. The Tom Sachs Nikecraft Mars Yard 3 sneaker marks Nike’s reunion with the New York artist, a relationship that ended when Sachs became the subject of several 2023 exposés. 2025's Mars Yard 3.0 shoe is a major refresh for Sachs and Nike’s NikeCraft footwear line.
The original Nike Mars Yard shoe is the pair's most sought-after collaboration, a rare shoe that incorporated actual materials from one of NASA’s Mars Rovers. The first Mars Yard shoe was thus quite limited-run and now resells for up to $20,000 on some secondhand sites.
Sachs and Nike’s Mars Yard 3.0 sneaker will retain its predecessors’ characteristics on a visual level, including tan suede paneling, red Swoosh and chunky outsole.
But compared to the Mars Yard 1.0, Nike’s Mars Yard 3.0 is more down to earth. Where the OG Nike Mars Yard's upper utilized actual Mars Rover Vectran airbag fabric, for instance, the Nike Mars Yard 3.0 is made with conventional mesh. Its Swoosh is silkscreened whereas the OG’s Swoosh was stitched and it wears much darker TPU toecap than the original.
Sachs revealed the Mars Yard 3.0 sneaker's details on his February 14 Instagram announcement, highlighting features like a carbon fiber plate, oversized eyelets, and a polyurethane foam midsole. His post’s caption, “Action Will Be Required,” suggested that like the release of his previous two Nike Mars Yard sneakers, there will be a special process necessary to secure a pair of the Mars Yard 3.0 sneakers.
The Tom Sachs Nike Mars Yard 3.0 shoe’s release, currently set for September 2025, signals that Nike and Sachs are ready to pick up where they left off in 2023.
Sachs and Nike’s partnership dissolved in May of that year following allegations from previous employees of inappropriate workplace conduct within Sachs' studio, including emotional, verbal, and physical abuse. In response, Sachs wrote a memo to his staff that was later shared online, describing himself as “impulsive and even aggressive in my language and my approach."
Sachs latelater said he would implement mandatory harassment prevention training in his studios and establish an external HR presence within his workplace, moves that satisfied Nike enough for the sportswear giant to resume its relationship with Sachs.
This reunion appears to have been in the works for some time. As early as 2024, rumors of Sachs reuniting with Nike began cropping up, but they posited that Sachs and Nike would be releasing a new version of their short-lived General Purpose Shoe, which was not the case. Instead, September’s Mars Yard 3.0 will be the first official revival of the Tom Sachs x Nike partnership and the fate of the General Purpose Shoe reremains unclear.
“Tom has demonstrated and recommitted to fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity,” Nike said in a September 2024 statement. “We can confirm that our work with Tom will continue and this next chapter of NikeCraft will uphold our shared passion for team, product, and storytelling excellence.”
