Nike designs shoe for American Indians

[HowHasItComeToThis]

Source: YAHOO & By SARAH SKIDMORE, Associated Press Writer

Nike designs shoe for American Indians

By SARAH SKIDMORE, Associated Press Writer 37 minutes ago

BEAVERTON, Ore. - Nike on Tuesday unveiled what it said is the first shoe designed specifically for American Indians, an effort aiming at promoting physical fitness in a population with high obesity rates.
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The Beaverton-based company says the Air Native N7 is designed with a larger fit for the distinct foot shape of American Indians, and has a culturally specific look. It will be distributed solely to American Indians; tribal wellness programs and tribal schools nationwide will be able to purchase the shoe at wholesale price and then pass it along to individuals, often at no cost.

"Nike is aware of the growing health issues facing Native Americans," said Sam McCracken, manager of Nike's Native American Business program. "We are stepping up our commitment ... to elevate the issue of Native American health and wellness."

Nike said it is the first time it has designed a shoe for a specific race or ethnicity. It said all profits from the sale of the shoe will be reinvested in health programs for tribal lands, where problems with obesity, diabetes and related conditions are near epidemic levels in some tribes.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070926/ap_on_re_us/nike_indian_shoe;_ylt=AhDpIJMB2Puq98Fj6Yls21is0NUE

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PLEASE TELL ME MORE

[Broken_Hero]

1. Sounds like a good idea,

I can't wait to get a pair of my own...I hope they carry 15 Wides.....

:D

[Recursion]

2. Hmmm....

Nike said it is the first time it has designed a shoe for a specific race or ethnicity.

Could have fooled me...

[monktonman]

4. was thinking the same thing

[Beerboy]

3. The distinct foot-shape of Native Americans?

[ingac70]

7. My great grandma was half cherokee...

and she had huge feet.

I thought she was just unlucky. Didn't know it was genetic!

[Hekate]

17. If different races have distinctive skull shapes (and they do) then why not feet?

This actually sounds like someone did some research, maybe asked people at Native American health clinics what their specific needs are.

Hekate

[aquart]

21. And perhaps, took measurements? Drew an outline?

[Beerboy]

47. Seems almost obvious, now that you mention

those other characteristics. The distinct foot-shape of N.A. is something I've never heard or read about before until seeing the OP. Very interesting.
I thought this was going to be about Nike trying to capitalize on 'N.A. chic' to exploit a broader market under the guise of helping poor fat Indians, but the marketing plan and research dispels my initial cynicism to a large degree.
The thought that different ethnicities had distinctive foot characteristics never crossed my mind.

[aquart]

19. Oh, I so hope it's wide toe and narrow heel.

Not that I'm a bit self-interested, mind you.

[MissB]

34. Yes. The local news ran an extensive story on this.

Nike said they took many measurements of Native American feet from around the country. A Native American who works for Nike and helped design the shoe, explained that typically Native American feet are wider in the front part of the foot, but average size in the heel.

Which really sounds like my feet. Nikes usually don't fit me. These look cool - I'd buy a pair if they fit properly.

[semillama]

39. That's my feet as well

I have small feet that are very wide in front but average to narrow in the heel. I have exactly one pair of shoes that fit, and they are my nice dress shoes that I don't wear often because I don't want to scuff them!

In fact, my big toe nails grow out with the exterior sides bent over 90 degrees from wearing shoes that were too tight in the front growing up.

I'd buy a pair as well.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. I gotta get me some!

I'm sick of having to buy tennis shoes that don't fit right.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

6. I have well formed feet, not fat feet like tennis shoes seemed to be designed for

WHO GETS A GOOD FIT?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

14. Yeah I gotta wear socks with sneaks. Bony narrow feet.

Guess I'm just too honky or something. :shrug:

Got those feet from my dad. He was about 5 foot 11, pretty good sized guy, and wore Bally of Switzerland. A 13-Triple-A!!!!

I asked him what he did when he was a kid and he said "I walked on my hands". :evilgrin:

[Beerboy]

48. "I walked on my hands".

:spray: 13 Triple A's can't be cheap!

[Cha]

8. I'd like to

check it, too. They said they're distributing solely to American Indians so I guess I can't. Sounds interesting though. My daugther has friends who work at the Nike employee store in Oregon so maybe some day..

[RamboLiberal]

10. Bet some will end up on EBay - n/t

[Cha]

9. Here's a picture..

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20980046/

[aquart]

20. Hold on! They're segregating the shoe!

WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US???? Why aren't we going to be allowed to buy them if they fit? Is Nike nuts?

[SpiralHawk]

29. Shoe comes with a white woman?

Hmmmmm? Who's in charge of marketing and advertising? Must be a belagaana republicon homelander

[Beerboy]

52. Would they sell more if that lady changed her corporate dress

for a bikini? If Nike changes their marketing plan, that'll be the Land-O-Lakes Indian maiden hawking that shoe!

[tomreedtoon]

11. Made out of lead paint by Chinese slave labor!

Great deal! Help out our native population by hurting someone else's. And look for the Hispanic, Sikh and Jewish versions of the shoe, coming to your Nike store soon!

How many people are gonna fall for this one?

[MADem]

12. Some wag will get on the rez, get him some, and sell 'em on EBay! nt

[Beerboy]

51. That's exactly what I thought.

Nike has their marketing plan, and those that are being supplied have theirs!

[Tunkamerica]

13. I will admit to rocking the AIRJesus on occasion

[Up2Late]

15. "...obesity, diabetes and related conditions...?" Humm, like Alcoholism?

Maybe they should stop marketing the Alcohol and Junk-foods so heavily and make their native foods more affordable first?

[Hekate]

16. I don't think Nike is responsible for that, do you? They sound well-intentioned. nt

[Up2Late]

18. No, I don't think they "...sound well-intentioned..." Anymore than Nike was "well-intentioned" by...

...selling $150.00 "Air Jordans" to inner-city black kids when the average price for a non-Air Jordan Basketball shoe was about $50 to $60 Dollars.

This is just another scheme by a clever Marketing guy at Nike, looking for another gimmick to sell more over-priced shoes to kids who can't really afford them. Marketing Mid-priced Running shoes to fat kids, without making any effort to fix the underlying cause is just irresponsible and creates false hope.

Btw, I've worn NIKE Running Shoes since 1978, but I've never bought the gimmicky, over priced shoes, just the basic Nike Air Pegasus or the equivalent basic, Good, necessary shoe.

[Nihil]

25. Spot on!

> This is just another scheme by a clever Marketing guy at Nike,
> looking for another gimmick to sell more over-priced shoes to kids
> who can't really afford them. Marketing Mid-priced Running shoes to
> fat kids, without making any effort to fix the underlying cause is
> just irresponsible and creates false hope.

Exactly right: it's just another a marketing gimmick.

I mean, it's not like you ever see a fat kid (or adult) wearing Nikes
anywhere is it? Once you put "them" on, you lose all the padding and
become a lean, mean & c-o-o-l dude ... not to mention being significantly
poorer and wearing a label saying "Gullible bastard" ...

[mcscajun]

26. I usually don't like anything Nike, but this program has some good in it.

"It will be distributed solely to American Indians; tribal wellness programs and tribal schools nationwide will be able to purchase the shoe at wholesale price and then pass it along to individuals, often at no cost."

The wholesale cost to the tribal wellness programs and tribal schools is $42.80 a pair. That's a pretty good deal, to me.

[Jed Dilligan]

40. Yeah, I snarfed a little at the statement

"first time we designed shoes for a specific race"

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

36. Nike makes alcohol and junk food?

And it controls the price of "native" food?

[Up2Late]

41. Maybe they do, maybe they don't, but they do have the same Mega Advertizing Agencys...

Nike is a VERY big Corporation, if they really wanted to "..do something good for the Indiginous people of this country...," they would either pressure these agencys to drop Anheuser-Busch, Ameriquest Mortgage Company, McDonald's, and McDonald's, and PepsiCo, or move their work to one of the hundreds of other Ad agencies who need more work and who would LOVE to get Nike as a new client.

<http://www.adforum.com/preview/subscriber/clients.asp?ID=4978&TDI=AGvwqG4R&orderby=&page=1>

DDB Worldwide Inc., New York
437 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022-7001
United States
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Country Phone Code: 1
Web Site: www.ddb.com
E-Mail the agency


ADVERTISER BRAND, PRODUCT BUSINESS SECTOR TYPE OF WORK SINCE
Ameriquest Mortgage Company Ameriquest Mortgage Company Banking & Financial Services, Investments, Stock Brokers (Sub-Prime Lender)
Anheuser-Busch Budweiser Beers, Ciders, Lagers
Barran Volailles Le Barran Chicken Fresh Poultry
BC Dairy Foundation BC Dairy Foundation Dairy Products & Eggs
Centraal Beheer Achmea Centraal Beheer Achmea Banking, Finance, Law & Insurance
Energizer Energizer Batteries (Except Car Batteries), Light Bulbs
Harvey Nichols Harvey Nichols Department Stores, Supermarkets
Hasbro Monopoly Toys & Games
Henkel Henkel Household Products & Maintenance
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) Banking, Finance, Law & Insurance
Kosiuko Kosiuko Jeans Clothing
La Ligue Contre le Cancer La Ligue Contre le Cancer Hospitals, Healthcare facilities & Medical Services
McDonald's McDonald's Restaurants & Fast Food
Nike Nike Sportswear
Nikon Nikon Consumer Electronics & Audio-Visual
NZ Girl NZ Girl Online Internet Sites (Excluding ISPs)
McDonald's
PepsiCo Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew Soft Drinks, Tonics...

And that's just ONE, they have 34 more: <http://www.adforum.com/preview/subscriber/list.asp>

No they don't, but the same people at DDB Worldwide Inc., New York (their advertising agency), the people who no doubt came up with this scheme to "expand the Brand to this new demographic" (my words, but I guarantee you, that's how most of them there refer to this new "marketing opportunity") sure do sell those products.

(more about this at my other replies here)

And regarding "native" foods, does in not bother you at all that it is so much cheaper to eat "bad for you" food and "Junk Food" than it is to eat healthy, fresh Vegetables and non pre-packaged food in this county? It bothers me a LOT.

[Beerboy]

50. I don't follow the reasoning behind why a shoe marketer

would divert resources from what they do to pressuring other manufacturers to change their advertising agencies.
The shoes designed for Native Americans thing seems to be the niche of niche markets, I don't think they're out to try to change the world or something. Or is it one of those things where if an entity can't change everythingthey should do nothing?
I don't see why Nike should concern themselves with the advertising industry regarding unrelated products, at great expense for less than profitable results to make an ambiguous political statement no one will even recognize.:shrug:

[Up2Late]

42. sorry, dupe reply

.

[fasttense]

22. How are Native American's feet different?

"Nike designers and researchers looked at the feet of more than 200 people from more than 70 tribes nationwide and found that in general, American Indians have a much wider and taller foot than the average shoe accommodates. The average shoe width of men and women measured was three width sizes larger than the standard Nike shoe."

That is interesting. I have also heard that American Indians indigenous to more mountainous terrain had flat feet with a wide ball and narrow heel. Has anyone else heard of these feet differences?

[slackmaster]

23. Impossible, all people are exactly the same

Men and women are even the same sex.

[spinbaby]

32. Sounds like my feet

Very wide and very high. I'll have to look into these.

[slackmaster]

24. I have a good friend (who happens to be white) that those shoes may fit

He's always had a hard time finding shoes that fit him right.

[Fierce]

27. I think they could help the health and wellness

by providing good jobs making shoes on a reservation somewhere. For American Indians, by American Indians. Of course, according to Nike, "Americans don't want to make shoes." Which is of course true. They don't want to make shoes...for .80/hour. But I digress! I should feel good about this, right?

[tchunter]

28. they are sewn together entirely out of broken treaties n /t

[Javaman]

31. by third world slaves. nt

[melody]

30. I have duckfeet = Indian feet

You mean I don't have to shove my foot into a shoe that seems like a torture device? I can
actually abandon slides? I'll believe it when I see it. Without Okabashi slides, I'd be up
S Creek without a youknowwhat.

[alfredo]

37. I have wide feet double D in some shoes. I really do have duck feet.

I have webbed toes. I kid you not. Soucany were about the only running shoes that fit. When I was a cyclist it was very difficult finding shoes and pedals that didn't hurt my feet. Even if I found a shoe that came close I had to soak them down and ride in them until they dried so they would stretch out to fit my wide foot.


My wife also has wide feet. She couldn't take ballet because she couldn't find ballet shoes she could wear. She became a gymnast because they worked barefooted. She can't even buy women's shoes. She has to buy boy sized shoes.

[AnneD]

33. Wado.....

I have my dad's feet Cherokee feet-wide ball, narrow heel, high arch. I work on my feet so this has always been a nagging issue for me as it is hard to get a proper fit.

A 9-10 toe box will fit the ball of my foot, but I am a 7 length-so you can imagine how I always slip out of shoes. I went to Academy just this August with my daughter to pick out some athletic shoes. My teenage daughter(who had never really been with me when I looked for athletic shoes) couldn't believe what I went through to get a decent fit. I tried on-no lie-18 shoes ranging from 7-9 in a variety of widths, just to get a good fit. Now, if I have to do this in a huge shoe store in a major US city...I can only imagine what it must be like near the Rez in the middle of nowhere. My daughter couldn't understand why I chose a basic Croc as a Nursing shoe because she thinks they are ugly....(that took one try-spent more time on the colour than anything else), but anymore-she shuts her mouth.

Even though I have new shoes....I'll buy a Nike-if it fits.

[hedgehog]

35. I read some years ago of a study done in England that showed

that in villages with the ancient British names, people had one type of foot shape and in villages with Nordic of Anglo SAxon names, people had other types.

Me, I go nuts trying to find shoes with a wide toe box, high arch and narrow heel. I tell me children we have such wide feet because people with narrow feet all sank in to the bogs! I laugh, because what is sold as the standard birkenstock in Germany is sold as a wide size here and our normal Birkenstock is their narrow!

With all the shoes being made in China or Brazil, I wonder what they must think of us. The shoes we need must look monsterous to them.

[Retrograde]

38. Because, of course, all Native Americans are alike

Nope, no difference at all between the Abenaki in Maine and the Ohlone in California and the Navajo in Arizona and the Sioux in the Midwest - all have the same "culturally specific" look. Just like cultures are the same in, oh, Europe, for example. I smell marketing at work.

I think that certain groups do tend to have certain physical traits predominant among them, and foot size and shape may be among them, but like all human traits there's also a lot of variation within groups.

Why limit the special shoes to Native Americans? I'd love for someone to start making shoes that fit my wide-toed, narrow heeled duck feet! C'mon, Nike - you're missing a market opportunity!

[PlanetBev]

43. Well, gee...

Maybe if the white man hadn't taken their land away and relegated them to reservations, feeding them gov'ment welfare processed cheese, they'd still be out hunting and fishing over wide expanses of land, and wouldn't have obesity issues.

Ya think?

[LisaM]

44. Well, considering how much Nike's probably made on Native-American team names

They really should give something back. I'm guessing they don't license those names (Seminoles, Braves, Redskins, Indians......)

[AnneD]

46. And I think

Cherokee Apparel owes some folks some REALLY BIG BUCKS.

[Xithras]

45. A lot of it has to do with shoe wearing during childhood too.

Few people realize it today, but the modern human foot is not shaped naturally. Left to its own devices (i.e., if never shod with a shoe), all of our feet would be much wider, with our toes spread apart when we walk. Instead, most western societies shove their kids feet into shoes when they're just babies. These shoes squeeze our feet from the sides, cram our toes together, and after only a few years completely redirect the growth in our feet.

The shape of your foot, therefore, is directly related to the amount of time you spend wearing shoes as a kid. I grew up poor and in the country, in an environment where shoes were discouraged (shoes were for school, so my mom encouraged us to take them off when we got home from class). I have wide feet. My kids, who haven't been more than a day without shoes since their first birthday, have narrow feet.

Generally speaking, reservations are poor places that tend to have a lot of barefoot kids running around. There's nothing wrong with that...in fact, I kind of miss running around barefoot in the dirt...but it can skew the statistics a bit. The wider feet may well simply be a result of growing up in such a poor place. They didn't wear shoes much as a kid, which lead to their feet developing a wider, more natural stance, which now requires a wider shoe in adulthood.

[samplegirl]

49. Why would anyone buy...

anything from who supports child slave labor?