Nike Air Native N7: A New Try at Cuturally Conscious Footwear
Posted on October 2nd, 2007 by jitterbugbaby under Athletic Shoes, Foot Health and FitnessNike has just released a new shoe. The Air Native N7. It’s targeted to (and will be made available only to) the Native American population in the USA, in an attempt to help fight the obesity that is prevalent in that community. The shoes are specially designed with a shape and footbed that are apparently more in line with Native American feet, and the shoes will be made available to American Indians at wholesale prices through schools and wellness centers.
Profits will be turned back around and given to the tribal communities to help them even further.
The shoes mostly look like regular Nikes, but have some adornments that reference American Indian culture (sunset and sunrise tags on the tongue, feathers and stars on the insole, etc).
What do you all think about this?
Personally, I’m of two minds. On one hand, I think it’s great that such a major company is recognizing and taking steps to help a problem in a specific community. However, on the other hand, this whole thing comes off a bit as a patronizing publicity stunt for Nike.
What say you, shoe lovers?
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Piperlime
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:14 am
Will they be affordable? Or is this a cute publicity stunt to get liberal white folks to buy more expensive Nikes while the cute little natives sit on their reservation with 10 year old shoes?
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:16 am
No, the idea is that they’ll only be made available to tribal populations. They’re not going to be sold in stores or online. Only made available at a deep discount through private tribal groups.
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:57 am
It’s a great idea to make shoes that fit a hard-to-fit population but a terrible idea to refuse to sell them to all the people with Native American genes who need them. How crazy is it to take a genetic issue and then restrict sales not to those who have the genes, but to those who are enrolled in tribes or live on reservations? For obvious historical reasons, the vast majority of the people who need these shoes are not in the group slated to have access to them. All over the net people who need these shoes are asking where they can get them. This will backfire on Nike as people get angry.
December 6th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
My husband has very hard to fit,feet. He has some indian in him. His feet are very wide, thick, and we can not find a pair of shoes in town to fit him. Where can we buy these shoes? His feet hurt all the time due to cramping shoes.I think these should be available to any one that can afford to buy them. Thanks.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Delores, I don’t think you can easily buy them. They’re being distributed through specific channels in tribal communities. Unless you want to contact one of the tribes taking part in the deal and see if they’ll set you up, I’m not sure you can just go out and buy them.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:58 am
i think these shoes are good because they are only able to go to natvies a native man made these and made them to natives and you cant just get a hold of a rez and ask for a deal to get the shoes. that is disrespect why even bother trying to get them sorry but they are made for natives and if u get them good for u but trully thats is not right if u got them in sum other way rhen buying and juss know wat would happen if u were to tell them we can afford things we aint big alc
January 9th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Native_pride… WHAT!!?!?!?!??!
January 20th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Us Natives can’t even find them, it stinks!
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:37 am
Sweat looking kicks!