Nike is to celebrate the LGBTQ community with this year’s BETRUE collection that supports inclusion on and off the field of play. Nike’s website states “Nike believes in the passion and pursuit of sport by all athletes, a message articulated in the EQUALITY initiative that launched last February”.
BETRUE started in 2012 with a grassroots effort led by passionate Nike employees. To connect with the LGBTQ community in a personalized way, they made a few styles with NIKEiD in celebration of Pride month. United by a common mission to innovate for all athletes* and provide equal access to sport, these employees developed a plan to bring BETRUE to more people
“The key for us was to create something that people could unite around to show their support for LGBTQ athletes,” says Robert Goman, LBGT Network Leader at Nike. “Sporting your rainbow in the gym or on a run became a way to feel like you belonged to something larger – you were connected to being ‘out’ or being an ally. The rainbow has and always will be incorporated into the BETRUE product in some way.”
Nike Flyknit Racer BETRUE
The 2017 BETRUE footwear and apparel collection pairs the rainbow with other prominent symbols of Pride, including the color pink and the triangle, with Nike innovations and the encouraging message, RUN FIERCE, printed onto the shoes’ sock-liners.
These innovations include a number of “firsts” introduced in the 2017 collection, including the first eight-color, HD rainbow Swoosh design (on the Nike Flyknit Racer) and the first rainbow VaporMax Air unit (on the NikeLab Air VaporMax Flyknit). The collection also includes the Nike Cortez, one of the company’s first footwear releases, with “BEEN TRUE” written on the sockliner — underscoring Nike’s longstanding commitment to equality and expression. It is also the first time the BETRUE collection will be available in key cities globally.
NikeLab Air VaporMax Flyknit BETRUE
In the U.S., since 2012, Nike has provided approximately $2.5 million in financial and in-kind support to LGBTQ causes.
The BETRUE Collection is below:
NikeLab Air VaporMax Flyknit BETRUE
Nike Classic Cortez BETRUE
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34 BETRUE
Nike Dry BETRUE Muscle Tank
Nike Sportswear BETRUE T-Shirt
Nike Equality BETRUE T-Shirt
Nike Elite Cushion Crew BETRUE Running Socks
The 2017 BETRUE collection launches June 1 on Nike+, nike.com/nikelab and at select retailers, with the exception of the US, where it is available starting June 5. Learn more at nike.com/betrue.
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