'Jesus Shoes' filled with holy water and blessed by a priest sold out within minutes of release despite $3,000 price tag
A limited-edition sneaker filled with holy water in the soles and blessed by a priest, with each pair listed at a whopping $3,000, reportedly sold out within minutes of its release.
MSCHF, a creative label based in Brooklyn, took a pair of all-white Nike Air Max 97s, which retails for around $1300, and injected them with holy water sourced from the Jordan River. Speaking to Fox News, the shoe's creator clarified the design is in no way affiliated with Nike, before explaining how they added some coloring to the holy water, which is visible through the see-through sole, to enhance its visibility.
Succinctly named "Jesus Shoes", the kicks also feature the Bible verse Matthew 14:25, which describes how Jesus walked on water, as well as a single drop of blood to represent the blood of Christ.
That said, the sneakers are highly detailed. The insoles are scented with frankincense and are red in color, referencing the red shoes traditionally worn by past Popes. Furthermore, the laces feature a crucifix threaded between them. Beyond the footwear, MSCHF also customized the shoebox with religious touches. It displays an angel and a seal that resembles the official papal seal.
That said, MSCHF designers said they bought the shoes at Nike retail value and re-designed them only to poke fun at the collaboration culture of today. “We thought of that Arizona Iced Tea and Adidas collab, where they were selling shoes that [advertised] a beverage company that sells iced tea at bodegas,” head of commerce Daniel Greenberg told the New York Post. “So we wanted to make a statement about how absurd collab culture has gotten.”
“We were wondering, what would a collab with Jesus Christ look like?” he added.
MSCHF produced less than two dozen of the Jesus Shoes, and don't plan on creating more. However, founder Gabriel Whaley jokingly hinted there may be a "second coming" in the future.