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Coveted retro? There’s a coveted job behind every pair. The employees who bring the Jordan Brand retro line to market every season feel a special responsibility in their day-to-day work, from shoe design to marketing to supply chain. The goal is the same: Help pass on the legacy of the Jumpman for a new generation. The spring 2024 collection was revealed today (Check out the AJ IV Bred Reimagined below 👀 ). Behind much of the work were people like Itchelle Mapanao, Senior Product Line Manager (PLM) for Jordan Brand Women’s. Being a PLM at Jordan Brand is her dream job, she says, as she sits at the intersection of history that honors the man himself and forward-thinking vision for younger generations of Jordan Brand fans, especially women. One of her most rewarding moments came during her team’s recent market trip to Paris. “We were walking through the streets of Paris, and I saw a teenage girl walk by wearing a pair of the Air Jordan IV Oil Greens that we released last year,” says Mapanao. “I was blown away by how well she styled the outfit with her shoe— it was this beautiful mix of blues and greens. But more than that, I loved seeing how confident she looked as she walked by. Seeing women all over the world pair their unique style with our sneakers is magical. They beam with this confidence that you only get when wearing a pair of Js. I take a lot of pride in getting to help foster a love for Jordan Brand style among young women.”
Looking for a feel-good read? Us too. So we found some of the people, programs and causes that best embody our core mission: serve athletes (emphasis on the serve). Click in and get some energy going into 2024.
“Running is more than a hobby for me — it’s a lifestyle. But it wasn’t until I was diagnosed with a mild heart disease almost four years ago that I realized how integral running is to my very being.” That’s Naoe Tanaka, Head Coach of Nike Ginza, the new Nike Rise store in the middle of downtown Tokyo. This location is in the heart of one of Japan’s most vibrant running communities, which Nike Ginza is specifically designed to serve through a variety of in-store features and programming. Tanaka’s passion for running led her to start working for Nike last year, and the camaraderie she’s found in the local running community has grounded her work in a deeper sense of purpose, she says. After the frightening diagnosis she mentioned above, she doubled down on finding ways to connect with other runners on what the sport gave her: Hope, healing, adventure and solidarity. And that's what the running programming at Nike Ginza is all about. Through regular events, like Nike Run Club Live group runs, Nike Ginza provides Tokyo’s runners a space where they can savor movement with each other. “Running with other people is something I started doing seriously once I joined the Nike family,” says Tanaka. “I remember my first staff run with my co-workers and feeling at home, supported and motivated in a way I’d never experienced before. What makes Nike so special is the sense of connection to others, and I've felt it firsthand. That’s exactly what I want people to feel when they come to our
Virgil Abloh was one of one. According to those who knew him best, the artist and designer most closely identified with skate in reflecting his creative principles through sport. The second annual Abloh Invitational, which took place this weekend in Miami, celebrated Virgil's enduring legacy and his love for the skate community. The two-day event featured freeriding sessions, competitions, community service opportunities, art exhibitions and more. For Leo Sandino-Taylor, Nike VP of Catalyst Brand Management, Virgil’s ease in bringing different social circles together — from artists to athletes to cultural figures — speaks to his special ability to connect with people, including his Nike teammates. “Virgil’s legacy lives on,” says Sandino-Taylor. “By hosting a second event like this with our SB athletes and Virgil’s nearest and dearest speaks to the deep relationship we had with him here at Nike. He wasn’t only our creative peer, but our friend. For an artist who changed the world in a way only he could, we’re honored to celebrate him in a way that only we could.”
Jordan Brand knows that basketball has the power to fearlessly challenge the most impactful issues of our day, including systemic racism. But real change is possible only with a more complete understanding of how structural racism has impacted American history. To spark change at the local level, the Jordan Black Community Commitment (BCC) opened its annual Community Grants cycle this November, awarding grassroots nonprofits across America. Applications are open now through December 16. Qualified organizations can access the application at https://lnkd.in/gEnw_bBn In November, the Jordan BCC came together to celebrate a new collective of grantee organizations elevating stories of the Black experience during Breaking Bread – an intimate two-day gathering in New York City that brought together new and existing storytelling partners as well as Jordan BCC family members, award-winning authors and leading scholars for the first time. Employees at Jordan Brand are part of this very same family. At the heart of the Jordan BCC is the desire to unite Jordan Brand family members to take action where it’s needed most nationally. That bond is driven by action and shaped by a spirit of excellence to make real, tangible change.
Working at Nike, you’re not the only one motivated to chase your sports dreams — your family is too. See how Lei, Art Director for Nike’s Greater China Brand Creative team, shares his passion for running with his son, and stokes confidence, pride and shoe-dog love for the next generation.
The Doernbecher Freestyle XIX Collection releases this Saturday, December 2. The launch includes six of the most creative, imaginative footwear designs you’ll see all year, each of them designed by six young patients from Oregon Health & Science University Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Ore., along with a team of Nike creatives. To say it’s one of the most popular volunteer opportunities at NIKE, Inc. is an understatement. Joining the design process this year was Leslie Howerton, a Senior Manager in Material Operations at the Bowerman Footwear Lab. Her passion for the event is deeply personal. Almost three years ago, her 7-year-old daughter, Winnie, passed away after a long battle with leukemia, and she was treated primarily at Doernbecher. “For these kids who are going through treatment, in the middle of a nightmare they had no say over, they finally have a sense of control over something,” says Leslie about the Freestyle program. “Our Nike teams are here to help make their creative vision a reality, but the kids are in the driver’s seat. The Freestyle process is a great example of what happens when creative outlets put power back into the hands of kids.” Never underestimate the power of some cool shoes, says Leslie. She saw that first-hand with Winnie.
Ready to break some records? Meet the new Nike Alphafly 3, the lightest and most tested Alphafly ever. Marking the next chapter of Nike’s relentless commitment to push the boundaries of innovation and design, the Alphafly 3 delivers marathon speed for all runners — powered by Nike Air Zoom. Under the hood, the Alphafly’s system of speed remains the same in the third edition — with Nike’s proprietary combination of Air Zoom units, ZoomX foam and a carbon fiber Flyplate. What’s new is a fine-tuned engine to optimize and improve the overall benefit to all marathoners, regardless of their pace. “Everything we create at Nike is rooted in breaking barriers, inspiring the world and moving the sport forward,” says Bret Schoolmeester, Sr. Director, Nike Running Footwear. “Four years after it hit the scene, the Alphafly and our athletes are still at the front of the pack. The new Alphafly 3’s design has been optimized to help all athletes chase their personal best in the marathon, no matter their pace.”
Giving Tuesday is here, and we’re highlighting how Nike, Jordan and Converse employees give back to the causes that matter most to them. Take it away, Kennard McClellan, Lauren Thomas and Jillian Rolland. Shout out the organization you'll support this Giving Tuesday, when the Nike Foundation is offering a 2X match on all NIKE, Inc. employee monetary donations made on Give Your Best, our employee giving platform.
At Nike, we believe basketball is more than just a game. It’s an opportunity to break barriers, build community and expand sport for the next generation. The newest N7 collection celebrates the power of the sport within the Indigenous community, something that hits close to home for Nike N7 General Manager Sam McCracken, a member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes — and a former girls basketball coach at the high school level for more than 30 years throughout the Western United States. Through his current work with Nike N7, McCracken is committed to help give more Indigenous kids a chance to play basketball and other sports. The N7 Fund provides grants — administered by CAF America — to nonprofits that create youth access to sport in Indigenous communities across North America. This investment continues Nike’s legacy of support for Indigenous communities through the N7 Fund and other grants, totaling over $10.8 million to nearly 300 organizations since 2009. Two of our N7 Fund grantees — the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation and Rise Above — are using the investment to help grow the game for girls. This year, NB3 created its first basketball team for Native American girls (ages 10-13), with an Indigenous woman as its head coach. Rise Above hosted multiple youth basketball clinics and has plans for an all-girls camp next summer. Learn more about how Nike’s tapping into the power of basketball and other sports to level the playing field.
