Pendleton x Nike 2013 Holiday N7 Collection

Touted as a point in which “innovation meets tradition,” Nike announces its latest collaboration with Pendleton Woolen Mills as part of its ongoing N7 collection series that supports youth sports programs for Native Americans across the United States. Though we’ll dive into some of the more enticing drops from this range in a moment, it’s the wool blanket that serves as a focal point for it all. Created to benefit the American Indian College Fund, project designer Derek Roberts looked to traditional Native American clothing as his inspiration, and more specifically how patterns would come together to create a purposeful garment. The Senior Designer took additional visual inspiration from the Nike Flyknit as the blanket’s woven wool fabric mixes each strand to create a unique grouping of color tones and shapes. What’s more is that at the center of the blanket, Nike N7’s signature markings are present – three arrows pointing backwards as a tribute to past generations, three arrows pointing forward to signify future generations, and arrows in the center to represent the current generation. Naturally, a portion of the proceeds collected from sales of the blanket will benefit the American Indian College Fund.

Now for the rest of the pieces in the collection which were designed to match the aforementioned blanket. Nike created a technical windbreaker that features a unique tonal embroidery across its sleeves as well as the N7 logo shown on both the inside of the jacket as well as its chest. In addition to two graphic T-shirts – one for men and the other for women – created with the same blanket pattern, the charitable range will also include a pair of Roshe Runs as well as a pair of Air Force 1s detailed with a wool fabric that also pairs with the triangular shapes on the special Pendleton blanket. While the guys will be able to purchase the winterized AF1s, the Roshes will only come in sizes for the fairer sex. Quite an impressive collection to say the least, the N7 range from Nike and Pendleton Woolen Mills will begin hitting retail shelves as well as Nike.com on October 26. For more information, check out Nike’s press release.