Nike has just unveiled its full official 2018 Equality Black History Month collection, featuring nine shoes that honor the late Martin Luther King Jr. The collection also honors powerful African American athletes of previous and current years. The entire line promotes equality, enforcing the positive initiative that surrounds the athletic community. The incorporated color scheme in this collection is inspired by the "Pan-African flag," a global symbol that celebrates the African community. Other unique features of the collection are the dates that have been placed on some sneakers, marking the days where someone stood to "protect diversity, inclusion, and equality."
This year's Equality Black History Month collection consists of graphic shirts that have the audio waves taken from the infamous "I have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr. It also includes pieces that commemorate athletes such as Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Michael Jordan.
Activist-Honoring Athletic Collections
Nike Unleashes Its Equality Black History Month Collection
Trend Themes
1. Activist-honoring Collections - Brands can create collections that commemorate activists and initiate conversation on current social issues.
2. Incorporating Cultural Symbols in Design - Brands can incorporate cultural symbols into designs to promote diversity and celebrate cultures from around the world.
3. Personalizing Products with Dates and Audio Waves - Brands can create personalized products by incorporating important dates and audio waves that hold sentimental value for their target audience.
Industry Implications
1. Athletic Footwear - Sports brands can create socially conscious collections that reflect diversity and promote equality within the athletic community.
2. Athletic Apparel - Sportswear brands can promote diversity and celebrate cultural symbols by incorporating them into their apparel designs.
3. Music Streaming Services - Music streaming services can collaborate with brands to create personalized products that feature audio waves from iconic speeches or music tracks that reflect social issues.