Model 000 Is Back — Find out what took it so long

Hi everyone,

This is Sidra, founder and CEO of Atoms. If you’ve been waiting (and waiting) for Model 000 to come back in stock — it’s finally time. After more than a year, we’re releasing the very first restock batch. This version is made in Vietnam, and it’s the result of 20+ rounds of sampling. Each one took 4–5 weeks to produce and ship, and we didn’t stop until it lived up to the Model 000 you originally fell in love with — and then some.

Let me explain why it took so long.

We launched Atoms with a belief that one perfect everyday shoe can change your life. Model 000 was our first. Then came Model 001, and as we grew, much of our attention shifted to building its supply chain and inventory. But behind the scenes, a post-COVID shift was reshaping supply chains across Asia. Our original material suppliers for Model 000 either shut down or moved operations out of Korea. Just as that was happening, we started receiving a wave of emails: When will Model 000 be back?

We didn’t have an answer. We couldn’t even make a single pair.

Eventually, one of our trusted midsole partners mentioned that they had opened a new shoe factory in Vietnam and offered to help. We were hopeful. But the first few samples? They didn’t even come close to the original. I rejected every single one. At one point, the team in Vietnam told us, “We’ve worked with global brands, but your standards are impossible.” Even some of our new hires started to lose faith. I overheard, “If Atoms goes down, it’ll be because of her standards.”

That was hard to hear. But in those moments, I came back to our values — especially authenticity. I couldn’t release something I didn’t believe in. And I couldn’t ask you to wear something I wouldn’t wear myself. So we kept going. Round after round, version after version. And finally, we’re here.

Model 000 is back and better than ever.

Here’s what’s new:

• A softer, more durable inner fabric so it does not rub against your feet.

• Reinforced, lightweight eyelets (no more torn eyelet issues!).

• A hidden tongue loop that keeps the tongue in place as you slip them on and off.

• We replaced the copper lining with silver graphene to prevent oxidation stains upon wash. And many other small details you’ll notice when you wear them.

One more thing: we’re saying goodbye to quarter sizing — for now.

I know some of you loved that feature. It felt like the right thing when we introduced it, but over time it added too much complexity — to our store, our forecasting, our logistics, and our production process. We may bring it back in a simpler way someday. In the meantime, if you used to wear a quarter size, we recommend trying the next half or full size up. You’ll get just 2.5mm more room — and as you know, Atoms get even more comfortable the more you walk in them. We’ll also carry our existing inventory of quarter sizes until those are sold out.

Everything we do at Atoms is a work in progress. Your feedback is what makes us better. So please — wear them, walk in them, and tell me what you think (you can reach us at support@atoms.com). My goal has always been to build something thoughtful, simple, and real. I can’t do that without you.

Thank you for sticking with us.

With love,

Sidra

Founder & CEO, Atoms