Global sneaker culture keeps circling back to its roots. Nike’s archival experiments from the early 1970s now drive major drops again.
Lalisa Manobal, aka LISA, steps into that moment as Nike global ambassador. Fresh off her historic Best Pop win at the MTV Video Music Awards for Dream, the BLACKPINK member and solo artist fronts the brand’s latest Moon Shoe campaign. The bold red Mystic Dates/Tough Red colorway lands October 1.
Campaign images show her in flowing red dresses, cropped jackets, and sharp athletic poses against a lunar backdrop. The tagline reads “A legend has landed.” Fans online called the shots pure star power.
Manobal made history as the first Asian solo artist to claim Best Pop. She beat a stacked field that included Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande. The track comes from her album Alter Ego. Earlier that night, she delivered the live debut of SaWaDiKa, complete with high-energy choreography and Thai cultural nods. The performance capped a strong awards run that already includes multiple Best K-Pop trophies.
Her Nike partnership dates to January. Official images first showed her in Air Max 95s, shot in Paris.
In a brand interview, she recalled saving allowance for Nike Dunk Highs during trainee days. “I was so young, so that moment and those shoes will forever be one of my most vivid Nike memories,” she said. She added that she shares the company’s focus on craft and versatility. “I want to encourage women everywhere to embrace self-expression and be confident in who they are and through what they wear.”
The Moon Shoe itself carries deep Nike lore. Co-founder Bill Bowerman poured rubber into a waffle iron in the early 1970s. The resulting sole left crater-like prints that reminded athletes of the moon. Runners tested early versions at the 1972 Olympic trials.
The silhouette stayed mostly archival until recent revivals, including Jacquemus collaborations that Manobal wore early. This new OG colorway pairs nylon and leather uppers with the classic waffle outsole in deep red tones accented by brown and sail. It targets the same slim, versatile profile that made the shoe a 2026 street staple for celebrities.
The campaign arrives as Manobal balances solo work with BLACKPINK duties. Her upcoming EP Press Play follows SaWaDiKa. A documentary, Always Lalisa, hits theaters soon. The Nike role extends her fashion reach beyond luxury houses like Louis Vuitton. Sneaker drops now sit alongside her music and acting moves, including The White Lotus.
October 1 marks the official release across Nike channels in key markets. Early social reaction already treats the red pair as a must-cop. Manobal’s blend of performance grit and polished style fits the shoe’s dual heritage of track and fashion. The drop keeps the Moon Shoe conversation alive well past its latest Jacquemus chapter.
What comes next for both the silhouette and its newest face remains the real question.
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