Matt Varga One of the more reliable relationships in Nik’s modern history is back on. After indefinitely pausing their work with Tom Sachs, a move spurred by former employees’ allegations of a cult-like, hostile work environment, Beaverton confirmed that the show would go on in 2025, highlighted by a new edition in the vaunted Mars Yard series. Images of a new wear test sample shared by Brendan Dunne provide insight into what the next steps will look like.
At first glance, the all-black colorway is the most intriguing note, but don’t fret; the legendary combination of curry brown and red will likely live on. The murdered-out look is par for the course at this early stage in production, no matter the silhouette.
It’s tough to confirm in these initial images, but the lugged traction of the Mars Yard 1.0, 2.0, and 2.5 seems like it’s been abandoned entirely. Instead, the Mars Yard 3.0 ventures towards a sportier unit, furthered by the more conventional traction seen in the footprint below the shoe. This is obviously come at a quite early stage in production, so though this partially tips off the direction of the 3.0, further changes will likely come about as the shoe’s development continues.
Of course, though Sachs’ catalog maintains legendary status among sneakerheads, it’ll be nigh impossible to remove the impression of those allegations from consumer’s minds. As we’re still months away from any product hitting shelves, there’s time for the involved parties to speak on the matter, but we’ve already received some official words.
In a statement shared directly with SneakerNews confirming the resumption of NikeCraft, Nike aimed at assuaging any residual negative sentiment: ‘Tom has demonstrated and recommitted to fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity. 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. More details to come in 2025.”
As of now, that note is essentially the last word on when to expect the Tom Sachs Mars Yard 3.0. For now, check out the wear test sample for yourself.
