Posted on 09/25/2007 8:11:58 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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.
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Associated Press writer William McCall contributed to this report from Portland, Ore.
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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