Nike Celebrates Seven Years of N7 with Holiday 2014 Collection

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N7 is Nike’s long-time commitment and mission to inspire and enable two million Native American and Aboriginal youth in North America to participate in sport and physical activity.

The N7 philosophy embraces the Native philosophy — In every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.

To celebrate seven years of N7, the Nike Holiday 2014 N7 collection features graphics inspired by Northwest Coastal Art across a range of running, basketball, sportswear and training styles.

Nike N7 ambassadors 

Three Nike N7 ambassadors represent the Northwest coast of North America and proudly wear the collection: soccer player Temryss Lane of the Lummi Nation in Washington state; basketball player Damen Bell-Holter of the Haida tribe in Alaska; and slopestyle snowboarder Spencer O’Brien of the Kwakwakw'wakw tribe in Vancouver, British Columbia.

 

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The art of the Northwest region 

Nike collaborated with Peter Boome, a Northwest Coastal Salish artist, to develop and authenticate the graphics presented in the Holiday 2014 N7 collection.

“The art of the Northwest region has historically existed as symbols carved onto artistic and utilitarian objects — virtually almost anything. N7’s interest in Northwest Coastal graphics is a natural progression of the art itself.

If you're going to design everything, why not design the clothes that you wear?” said Peter Boome. “I love the abstract qualities of Nike's take on traditional designs — bringing movement to the wings and other traditional elements. Apparel is meant to move, so the integration of movement in the design is intuitive.”

“Northwest art stands on its own, but the reach of N7 is broader than I ever realized in terms of its impact on Native youth as they define who they are and what path they will take,” Boome said.

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Traditional design elements from Northwest Coastal art are used throughout the HO14 N7 Collection. The Raven, known as the bringer of light as well as a powerful storyteller and teacher; and the Frog, known for its knowledge and adaptability to live both in water and on land, are featured. All of the designs are grounded in black and red to reflect traditional Northwest Coastal art. Gold and silver accents are used to signify the seventh anniversary of N7.

 

About N7 

 

After nearly a decade of partnership with tribes across North America to support programs aimed at physically active lifestyles, Nike deepened its connection to the Native American community in 2007 with the launch of N7 and the Nike Air Native N7 shoe.

The N7 collection followed in 2009, to celebrate Native American and Aboriginal culture and to raise awareness for the N7 Fund, which has raised more than $3 million for Native American and Aboriginal youth sport programs.

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The N7 Collection, which incorporates organic cotton and recycled polyester into several styles, highlights the N7 philosophy of considering the lasting impact our decisions have on the planet and embodies Nike’s commitment to sustainable innovation by creating product engineered for superior athletic performance and lower environmental impact.

The Holiday 2014 N7 Collection is available since Nov. 8 at Nike.com, Nike and Foot Locker locations across the United States and Canada. For more information about Nike N7, visit N7Fund.com, and follow Nike N7 on Facebook and @NikeN7.


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