Tom Sachs
Tom Sachs x Nike is the partnership between American artist Tom Sachs and Nike, released under the NikeCraft name. Sachs is known for sculptures he visibly builds by hand from everyday materials, and for his art projects about space travel. You can see that approach in sneakers designed more like tools than fashion items.
The history of Tom Sachs x NikeCraft
The first Mars Yard appeared in 2012, around Sachs’ art project about an imaginary mission to Mars. The upper combined suede with Vectran, a fabric NASA used for the airbags that landed rovers on Mars. The Mars Yard 2.0 followed in 2017, and later a Mars Yard Overshoe and the Mars Yard 3.0, among others.
In 2022 came the General Purpose Shoe, or GPS for short: a simple low-top sneaker for everyday use. It was released in an unusually wide size range and was easier to get hold of than the Mars Yard, which always came out in small numbers.
How to recognise Tom Sachs sneakers
Tom Sachs sneakers are plain and functional, with little colour and an honest, visible construction. Typical features are the NikeCraft name, sturdy materials such as suede and technical fabrics, and details that refer to workshops and space travel. The GPS has a flat, low shape; the Mars Yard is built more sturdily, with a tougher sole.
Popular Tom Sachs releases
These Tom Sachs NikeCraft models are currently the most viewed on WOOVIN:
- General Purpose Shoe ‘Summit White’: the GPS in a light off-white shade.
- General Purpose Shoe ‘Archive Dark Sulfur’: the same low shape in a dark sulphur yellow.
- Mars Yard Overshoe: a rugged overshoe from the Mars Yard series.
- Mars Yard 3.0 ‘Space Camp’: the third generation of the Mars Yard.
General Purpose Shoe or Mars Yard?
The GPS is the easiest place to start: low, light and suitable for every day. The Mars Yard is more technical and sturdier, and came out in much smaller numbers. If you want a Tom Sachs pair to wear a lot, the GPS is the obvious pick. If you prefer streetwear collabs, also take a look at Off-White and Supreme.
How do Tom Sachs sneakers fit?
Here the fit follows the NikeCraft model itself, as the GPS and the Mars Yard each have their own last. According to retailers the GPS fits true to size, so your usual Nike size is a good starting point. For the Mars Yard, if in doubt, compare the insole length with a shoe you already own.
Buy Tom Sachs x NikeCraft at WOOVIN
On WOOVIN you will mainly find Tom Sachs x NikeCraft as the General Purpose Shoe, alongside a small selection of Mars Yard models. The GPS in Summit White goes with most outfits; the Mars Yard is mainly of interest if you collect the whole series. The stock of these NikeCraft pairs comes from verified stores that confirm the authenticity of every pair.
