Jordan Brand Taps 8 Chicago Creatives for NBA All-Star 8x8 Collection
Footwear and apparel from Virgil Abloh, Cole Bennett’s Lyrical Lemonade, Chance The Rapper’s Social Works and others.
With NBA All-Star Weekend on the horizon, Jordan Brand has gone beyond the star-studded game by tapping into Chicago’s creative community for an “8×8” collection. Consisting of apparel and footwear crafted by 8 different area-based creatives and their crews, the collection uses city-specific transit line colors to interpret Jordan Brand’s “UNITE” ethos.
Leading things off is Virgil Abloh, Off-White™ founder, creative director of menswear at Louis Vuitton and frequent Nike/Jordan collaborator. Apart from his highly-anticipated Off-White™ x Air Jordan 5, Abloh has also crafted a full set of black and red apparel. This includes everything from tees to hoodies and a boiler suit, all with Off-White™ and Air Jordan motifs.
The company’s Wings initiative is present as well, thanks to four program participants who mashed minds by create an Air Jordan 10 that combines the colors of all 8 Chicago transit lines plus a tee and a hoodie. Another youth empowerment organization tapped is SocialWorks — co-founded by Chance The Rapper — who built a city-centric Air Jordan 1 KO, tee and hoodie. Music video creator Cole Bennett and his Lyrical Lemonade outfit worked on colorful apparel and a bold Jordan Aerospace 720. Longstanding Chicago streetwear boutique SucceZZ is present as well, thanks to hoodies and tees inspired by the heavily trafficked Yellow Line and a “No Place Like Home” slogan.
Rounding things off are a trifecta of Windy City artists and artisans: Cody Hudson, Sheila Rashid and Drew the Barber. Hudson has arranged hoodies and tees with a marble tie-dye print and an abstract take on Chicago’s starred flag. Rashid’s collection features a boldly colorblocked Air Jordan 1 Mid in purple and grey plus a hoodie and tee. Finally, Drew the Barber’s elegant brown garments use gold detailing inspired by old Chicago transit tokens.
The Jordan Brand “8×8” collection will release via the Nike webstore on February 15, smack in the middle of All-Star Weekend.
Can’t get enough ASW gear? Check out the 18 shoes Nike, Jordan Brand and Converse will be releasing in celebration.
