It’s no secret that companies design and market products for different geographic, social, and cultural demographics, from marketing to Hispanics to designing for the California skate/punk scene. The latest news comes from Nike, which has now designed a shoe specifically for Native Americans, in “an effort aiming at promoting physical fitness in a population with high obesity rates,” according to the Huffington Post. The Air Native N7 “is designed with a larger fit for the distinct foot shape of American Indians, and has a culturally specific look,” which includes feather and surise/sunset motifs. The sneakers will be sold only to tribal schools and wellness programs, at the wholesale price of $42.80 (Nike anticipates that many organizations will distribute the shoes for free to tribal members).
[via Huffington Post]
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This is the best thing I’ve heard about it and it deserves to be repeated.
From yesterday’s NYT
“When I heard it, the first thing I did is I laughed until I cried, because I just though it was hilarious,” said Sherman Alexie, a Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Indian and a novelist, who is on a book tour for “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” a young adult novel.
“The day it was announced, I thought: ‘Are they going to have dream catchers on them? Are they going to be beaded? Will they have native bumper stickers on them that say, ‘Custer had it coming’?”
October 4th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
I wonder if this will lead into a partnership with budweiser.
October 4th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
I am Native American and I have a terrible time finding shoes that fit my feet. I am glad to see that “our” needs are being addressed. I would love to see it expand to dress shoes and boots.I don’t find this delima the least bit funny.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:46 am