Nike N7's Summer 2020 Collection Is Inspired by Intergenerational Healing
Air Max 90s, Kyrie 6s and other shoes/apparel with patterns and colors inspired by heritage plants found across America.
Each season, Nike releases a special N7 collection that’s inspired by Indigenous American culture. For its Summer 2020 slate, Nike N7 is looking to heritage plants like aloe, yucca, wild rose, dandelion and prickly pear for pattern and color inspiration — then using those prints and tones for a nod to traditional Indigenous healing methods. Consisting of fresh takes on the Air Max 90, Kyrie 6, Venture Runner and Benassi Slide as well as an extensive set of apparel, the offerings acknowledge the restorative powers of the Earth in compelling, colorful fashion.
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
The collection’s Air Max 90 may not boast any bold prints, but it does use a flora-inspired color palette, adding warm pops of yellow and red above its white, tan and grey base. Overlays are constructed of soft suedes that are meant to be soothing to the touch, and N7 tongue badges add a small touch of modernized flair. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving‘s Nike Kyrie 6 is a physical representation of the Brooklyn Nets‘ point guard’s personal journey and reconnection with his mother’s Lakota Sioux heritage. This is acknowledged by a special graphic print that represents both the long history of Lakota quilt design and Irving’s Lakota name — Hela, or “Little Mountain.”
On the other end of the spectrum, the Venture Runner bolsters its traditional Nike Running style with an all-over floral print inspired by the above-mentioned plants. This is contrasted with soft suede overlays and a stark black Swoosh. Finally, the Benassi keeps things simple with a green EVA foam footbed and a grey suede strap with an N7 logo. The meaning here is simple but poignant: the familiar shape is a nod to long-standing traditions. Alongside the footwear offerings there’s also a wide slate of unisex apparel that ranges from tees to tanks and leggings.
N7 will also be making more of its yearly grants to community-focused organizations. One such nonprofit is the Native Wellness Institute, a group that fittingly supports the overall wellness of Indigenous communities by “reawakening ancestral teachings tied to health and wellness.”
Look for the entire Nike N7 Summer 2020 collection to release on the Nike webstore June 21. Prices have yet to be announced.
Elsewere in the world of the Swoosh, Nike Sportswear is saluting Japan with a “Nippon” pack, made up of the Air Max Triax 96 and Air Max Tailwind IV.
