MSCHF is a Brooklyn-based collective active since 2016. Known for its limited-run “drops,” the group produces works that cross between product, artwork, and media event. Each release is structured independently, often using legal, commercial, or visual systems without modifying their internal rules. The group has no singular medium or aesthetic. Instead, its output is organized around concept and release structure. Footwear appears periodically within this system of releases. The following selection presents some of the most discussed footwear projects released by MSCHF.
1. Satan Shoes (2021)
A collaboration with Lil Nas X, these modified Nike Air Max 97s contained a drop of human blood in each sole and were released in a limited edition of 666 pairs. The design included inverted crosses, pentagram charms, and Luke 10:18 printed on the side. They sold out in under a minute. The shoes triggered a trademark lawsuit from Nike, who disavowed the project and reached a settlement with MSCHF shortly after. Media coverage was widespread, ranging from sneaker blogs to mainstream news outlets. The shoes were voluntarily recalled as part of the settlement, and resale listings were eventually taken down.
2. Wavy Baby (2022)
Released in collaboration with rapper Tyga, Wavy Baby appears as a distorted Vans Old Skool with a stretched sole and undulating outsole. Though wearable, its warping affects both balance and gait. MSCHF described it as a formal experiment in footwear instability. Vans filed a trademark infringement lawsuit within days of release, arguing consumer confusion. The court later issued a temporary restraining order. Despite legal hurdles, the shoes gained traction on social media, worn by artists and influencers. As of 2023, the shoes are no longer available through MSCHF and have appeared on secondary markets.
3. AC.1 (2022)
Styled after a medical walking boot, the AC.1 was designed to question the line between therapeutic gear and fashion object. The name plays on “Aircast,” a brand of orthopedic devices. It features pump-inflation technology, Velcro straps, and an overall clinical aesthetic. MSCHF positioned it as a performance sneaker and released it as a limited drop. Though not legally contested, the AC.1 stirred discussion around the appropriation of disability aesthetics in consumer design. The AC.1 was released in limited quantities and did not prompt legal disputes or major press controversies.
4. Reebok Pump Omni Zone IX (2023)
A collaboration between MSCHF and Reebok, this shoe exaggerated the classic Pump Omni Zone II silhouette. Its oversized tongue, inflated heel, and distorted shape pushed the nostalgic design into cartoon-like proportions. MSCHF framed it as a maximalist evolution of Reebok’s 1990s pump technology, transforming performance utility into absurd form. Released in 2023, the shoe aligned visually with MSCHF’s other scale-distorted projects. It was sold through MSCHF’s own channels and featured in sneaker publications as a maximalist interpretation of the Reebok Pump.
5. Big Red Boot (2023)
Perhaps MSCHF’s most instantly recognizable product, Big Red Boot resembles the cartoon footwear of Astro Boy, scaled to human proportions. Its oversized TPU shell and EVA foam interior make it wearable, but impractical. Released in February 2023, it sparked a media cycle across fashion, meme culture, and streetwear communities. Celebrities and models posted images in the boot before, during, and after the drop. While not a brand parody, it paralleled MSCHF’s earlier Wavy Baby in treating foot design as a sculptural problem. The boot’s visibility was amplified by celebrity posts, media attention, and its resemblance to animated footwear.
