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Nike Unveils N7 Air Native Shoe Designed for Native Americans
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
BEAVERTON, Ore. - Nike on Tuesday unveiled what it said is the first shoe
designed specifically for American Indians, an effort aiming at promoting
physical fitness in a population with high obesity rates.
The Beaverton-based company says the Air Native N7 is designed with a larger
fit for the distinct foot shape of American Indians, and has a culturally
specific look. It will be distributed solely to American Indians; tribal
wellness programs and tribal schools nationwide will be able to purchase the
shoe at wholesale price and then pass it along to individuals, often at no
cost.
"Nike is aware of the growing health issues facing Native Americans," said
Sam McCracken, manager of Nike's Native American Business program. "We are
stepping up our commitment ... to elevate the issue of Native American
health and wellness."
Nike said it is the first time it has designed a shoe for a specific race or
ethnicity. It said all profits from the sale of the shoe will be reinvested
in health programs for tribal lands, where problems with obesity, diabetes
and related conditions are near epidemic levels in some tribes.
Nike designers and researchers looked at the feet of more than 200 people
from more than 70 tribes nationwide and found that in general, American
Indians have a much wider and taller foot than the average shoe
accommodates. The average shoe width of men and women measured was three
width sizes larger than the standard Nike shoe.
As a result, the Air Native is wider with a larger toe box. The shoe has
fewer seams for irritation and a thicker sock liner for comfort.
Jerry Bread, outreach coordinator for the Native American Studies program at
University of Oklahoma, said the idea was "fantastic" and addressed a core
issue for tribes, though he was skeptical that the feet of people from so
many tribes could be so similar.
"It's an excellent gesture and I know it will get a lot of support from
tribal people," Bread said. "We stand to profit from it in our physical
health and well being."
Dr. Kelly Acton, director of the national diabetes program for Indian Health
Services, said she was dubious of working with a corporation at first but
said she was delighted with the result, saying Nike "bent over backwards" to
design a shoe and respect public health needs.
The N7 name is a reference to the seventh generation theory, used by some
tribes to look to the three generations preceding them for wisdom and the
three generations ahead for their legacy.
The design features several "heritage callouts" as one product manager
described it, including sunrise to sunset to sunrise patterns on the tongue
and heel of the shoe. Feather designs adorn the inside and stars are on the
sole to represent the night sky.
The company anticipates selling at least 10,000 pairs and raising $200,000
for tribal programs. At $42.80 wholesale, it represents less of a financial
opportunity than a goodwill and branding effort.
"The reason I like it is that, even if there's not a big Native American
market, it gives people the impression there is a constituency that deserves
attention," said John Dickson, a member of the executive council of the
Native American Leadership Alliance in Washington, D.C.
Paul Swangard, managing director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at
the University of Oregon, said the product reflects how Nike does business.
The company prides itself on designing specifically for certain athletes and
having close ties to its customers. Nike has been involved with the tribal
community for years, supporting tribal athletic teams, events and other
social initiatives.
"It reinforces the core of the Nike brand, which is: If you have a body you
are an athlete," Swangard said.
Nike Unveils N7 Air Native Shoe Designed for Native Americans
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
BEAVERTON, Ore. - Nike on Tuesday unveiled what it said is the first shoe
designed specifically for American Indians, an effort aiming at promoting
physical fitness in a population with high obesity rates.
The Beaverton-based company says the Air Native N7 is designed with a larger
fit for the distinct foot shape of American Indians, and has a culturally
specific look. It will be distributed solely to American Indians; tribal
wellness programs and tribal schools nationwide will be able to purchase the
shoe at wholesale price and then pass it along to individuals, often at no
cost.
"Nike is aware of the growing health issues facing Native Americans," said
Sam McCracken, manager of Nike's Native American Business program. "We are
stepping up our commitment ... to elevate the issue of Native American
health and wellness."
Nike said it is the first time it has designed a shoe for a specific race or
ethnicity. It said all profits from the sale of the shoe will be reinvested
in health programs for tribal lands, where problems with obesity, diabetes
and related conditions are near epidemic levels in some tribes.
Nike designers and researchers looked at the feet of more than 200 people
from more than 70 tribes nationwide and found that in general, American
Indians have a much wider and taller foot than the average shoe
accommodates. The average shoe width of men and women measured was three
width sizes larger than the standard Nike shoe.
As a result, the Air Native is wider with a larger toe box. The shoe has
fewer seams for irritation and a thicker sock liner for comfort.
Jerry Bread, outreach coordinator for the Native American Studies program at
University of Oklahoma, said the idea was "fantastic" and addressed a core
issue for tribes, though he was skeptical that the feet of people from so
many tribes could be so similar.
"It's an excellent gesture and I know it will get a lot of support from
tribal people," Bread said. "We stand to profit from it in our physical
health and well being."
Dr. Kelly Acton, director of the national diabetes program for Indian Health
Services, said she was dubious of working with a corporation at first but
said she was delighted with the result, saying Nike "bent over backwards" to
design a shoe and respect public health needs.
The N7 name is a reference to the seventh generation theory, used by some
tribes to look to the three generations preceding them for wisdom and the
three generations ahead for their legacy.
The design features several "heritage callouts" as one product manager
described it, including sunrise to sunset to sunrise patterns on the tongue
and heel of the shoe. Feather designs adorn the inside and stars are on the
sole to represent the night sky.
The company anticipates selling at least 10,000 pairs and raising $200,000
for tribal programs. At $42.80 wholesale, it represents less of a financial
opportunity than a goodwill and branding effort.
"The reason I like it is that, even if there's not a big Native American
market, it gives people the impression there is a constituency that deserves
attention," said John Dickson, a member of the executive council of the
Native American Leadership Alliance in Washington, D.C.
Paul Swangard, managing director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at
the University of Oregon, said the product reflects how Nike does business.
The company prides itself on designing specifically for certain athletes and
having close ties to its customers. Nike has been involved with the tribal
community for years, supporting tribal athletic teams, events and other
social initiatives.
"It reinforces the core of the Nike brand, which is: If you have a body you
are an athlete," Swangard said.