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.
The Rockport “Dressports” line has sure been good to my feet. Light, durable, comfortable, stylish. I could walk for miles in these.
Sounds comfy. I’d like a pair.
I don’t mind the cost so much, but it is at least an hour to go to a good shoe store. But a specialty running store really can’t be beat.
And I hear you on dress shoes.
Wait, isn't this insensitive cultural profiling? And aren't these symbols a bit dated? Why not acknowledge tribal modernity with a roulette wheel or blackjack table motif?
Cool! Nothing wrong with identifying characteristics of different ethnic groups and creating products specifically for them. Go for it, Nike!
Exactly!
And, while we’re on the subject of casinos......with all the money coming in - why can’t they afford buy their own damned shoes?
Is it all going to drugs and alcohol?
If Nike REALLY wanted to do something for “native Americans”, they could pull their manufacturing OUT of the far East and bring it to the reservations....
I’ll bet the Feds would give them a lot of tax breaks for manufacturing within the boundaries of “Indian Nation” property.....
Yup.
Can you say "Shameless act of pandering?"
I knew ya could.
Exactly! Lets go down and literally put shoes on the natives feet.
I hear Reebok has hired Earl Butz to design a shoe for the African American community.
http://www.wideshoes.com/
Oh my gosh, Earth Shoes....memory lane...I had those in junior high. they look freaky to me now! haha
Cute! Who sells them?
Of course not. It would be the same as saying some other appendage to the body is ethnic specific. And I don't think they want to start down that road.
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.
I used to date a native gal. She had what I lovingly called “Flintstone Feet.”
Yeah, that relationship didn’t stand much of a chance.
LOL.
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