Posted on 09/25/2007 8:11:58 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Sam McCracken, manager of Nike's Native American business program, shows the new Nike Air Native N7 shoe at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007. Nike unveiled the new shoe Tuesday, the first-of-a-kind performance shoe designed to address the specific fit and width requirements for the Native American foot.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)
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.
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Can I get it w/ velcro straps?
You stupid heathens need our interference.
What about making a proper fitting shoe for my giant scandinavian foot?
Let me guess - they call it the “Running Bull” edition.
They’ll make a lot of money on these for kids with wide feet.
Nike product line manager Ann Marie Fallow shows the new Nike Air Native N7 shoe at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007. Nike unveiled the new shoe Tuesday--the first-of-a-kind performance shoe designed to address the specific fit and width requirements for the Native American foot.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)
gosh, i had a pair of new balance shoes that i had to return because the show rubbed against my left big toe.
my mother’s 3/4 american indian.
seriesly, i don’t think ethnicity has a bit to do with shoe sizes.
That's why God invented New Balance....
the Running Bull edition
I was thinking BigFoot. but I like that.
Interesting idea. Good PR move as well.
It is interesting how much people from so many tribes have similar feet. It makes me wonder how many people in the general population are walking around with poor fitting shoes.
New Balance has a similar size range for a 'high volume' foot. I have a hard to fit foot, wide with a narrow heel and a high arch and instep, sigh, I love shoe shopping, but find so few to fit well. I wonder if they will eventually add more size choices for the non-Native American...
I admit it, I am a cheap one when it comes to foot attire.. but I hear ya on a good fitting pair of shoes and how many folks are enduring a bad fitting shoe or two. I always have a dickens of a time finding a nice fit for a dress shoe.
Were you at the Shoe Dept a few weeks ago? Tee hee. While scanning for wide widths, I struck up a conversation with a very, very tall Scandinavian-looking man trying to find 'anything stylish' in a 15 or 16 quad E. I think he did find one...
Wow, what a market niche to exploit. I wonder if this will offset the use of child labor in Asian markets?
I work for Nike at the world headquarters. Very cool company, incredible campus, you can wear really casual clothes - within reason i.e. no sweats - and lots of energy.
Indian feed are different? Who knew.
Another money making scheme by marketers. Tell someone their feet need different shoes because they are a special class or a privileged class and shoes jump off the shelf.
What store....? I occasionally walk into sporting goods stores asking for anything they carry in a 16 or 17.
Are you a female? I have a similar foot shape and find that Easy Spirit shoes fit quite well. I also have a pair of New Balance sneakers that I got online and fit great. I had my feet measured and found that I don’t actually have a wide foot, but the salesman said that wide will fit my high arch better; that seems to be true.
BTW, 1/8 Native American, if that means anything. : )
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