Nike produce Nike Air Native N7 the first Native American shoes

After many studies Nike Inc decided to create special shoes for Native Americans in order to assure specific needs . The new collection named Nike Air Native N7 appeared in this purpose promote an active and healthy lifestyle.

NIKE, INC. Press Release:

Nike today unveiled the Nike Air Native N7, a unique athletic performance shoe designedspecifically for Native Americans. The Nike Air Native N7 is the result ofnearly two years of collaborative research, development and fit testing inpartnership with the Native American community. This first-of-a-kindperformance shoe is built on a new and unique last created to address thespecific fit and width requirements for the Native American foot. Theresult is a true Native fitting, performance product.

The Nike Air Native N7 shoe marks another milestone in Nike'slong-standing commitment to Native American communities. Profits from thesale of the Nike Air Native N7 will support "Let Me Play" programs onNative American lands that leverage sport to promote an active and healthylifestyle.

The Nike Air Native N7 shoe also embraces Nike's Considered designethos, where details in the development and design of the shoe are gearedto deliver sustainable innovation and reduce waste, without compromisingproduct performance. The Considered design ethos also honors thetraditional Native American Seventh Generation philosophy, an approach thatrespects the impact of decisions made today on seven generations. Theshoe's design draws inspiration directly from Native American culture.

The Nike Air Native N7 shoe and "Let Me Play" programs deepen Nike'slong-term commitments to challenge and address some of the specific healthand wellness issues that exist within Native American communities. A strongemphasis was placed on providing a performance product that would cater tothe specific needs of Native American foot shapes and help providemotivation to Native Americans predisposed to, or suffering from, healthissues that can be improved by leading physically active lifestyles.

As well as being built on a new Native specific last, the shoe isconstructed from the inside out to ensure significantly improved comfortand fit. This approach results in reduced seams and layering, while the useof performance foams at key points provides additional cushioning inspecific areas of the shoe. In combination these elements help to improveoverall fit and help wearers to avoid foot irritations caused byill-fitting footwear. Creating a shoe designed in this way is another stepin helping to promote and sustain physical activity and address healthissues prevalent within the Native American community.

"Nike is aware of the growing health issues facing Native Americans,"explained Sam McCracken, Manager of Nike's Native American Businessprogram. "Through the Nike Air Native N7 we are stepping up our commitmentto use our voice on a local, regional and national level to elevate theissue of Native American health and wellness. We believe physical activitycan and should be a fundamental part of the health and wellness of allNative Americans."

"The Nike Air Native N7 marks an important moment for us and is a greatexample of what can be achieved when we challenge ourselves to innovate fora better world," said Mark Parker, President and CEO of Nike, Inc. "Thisproduct represents innovation beyond athletic performance, helping toimprove Native American communities. It also exemplifies Nike's broadercommitment towards sustainable design and community involvement."

The Nike Air Native N7 project has been a true collaboration with theNative American community and key stakeholders engaged in the health andwellness issues surrounding Native American populations. Research hasengaged individuals from over 70 tribes as well as consulting podiatristsand members of Indian Health Services and the National Indian Health Board.

"Nike's development of the Nike Air Native N7 comes at a critical timefor the health and well-being of the Native American population," said Dr.Rodney Stapp, Chief Executive Officer for the Urban Inter-Tribal Center ofTexas, one of 36 urban Indian Health Centers funded by I.H.S. and aconsulting podiatrist on the Nike Air Native N7 project. "Today, more thanever, we are faced with rising rates of chronic diseases brought on inlarge part by overweight and inactivity and for which physical activity isa noted step in the prevention of such diseases. The fact that Nike hasbeen a long-time advocate for physical activity on Native Lands through itsNative American Business Program speaks volumes to its true understandingof the growing need to tackle Native American health issues with thepositive antidote of movement and sport."

The Nike Air Native N7 is a Nike+ enabled fitness shoe designed for arange of sports and activities. The Nike Air Native N7 will only beavailable through Nike's Native Business Program as an additional way forNative American communities to provide Nike product incentives atpreferential prices to their members through health promotion and diseaseprevention programs.

ABOUT NIKE, INC. (NYSE: NKE)

Based near Beaverton, Oregon, Nike is the world's leading designer,marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipmentand accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Whollyowned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets anddistributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; NIKE Bauer HockeyInc., a leading designer and distributor of hockey equipment; Cole Haan,which designs, markets, and distributes fine dress and casual shoes andaccessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets anddistributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel andaccessories and Exeter Brands Group LLC, which designs and markets athleticfootwear and apparel for the value retail channel.

Let Me Play

Let Me Play -- Nike's new signature community effort -- will expand thecompany's commitment to sports and physical fitness for youth through therecognition that by playing sports, young people can make themselves, theircommunities and their world better. In addition to building surfaces forplay, Let Me Play provides grants and product donations to support youngpeople in their quest for sport; and it brings volunteers, organizationsand decision-makers together to improve opportunities that help youth growup healthy and active.

SOURCE NIKE, INC.