Colin Kaepernick may be
exiled from the National Football League but his collaboration with Nike has
grown with the launch of Air Force 1 '07 x Colin Kaepernick. The sneaker was an
instant hit among the customers of Nike, rocketing up the sales soon after its launch.
The shoes are no longer
available in North America at Nike stores, SNKRS, and select retailers. They were
sold out in all kids as well as adult sizes in few minutes. These shoes bear a
portrait of the former NFL player, Colin Kaepernick, on the heel tab and his
personal logo on the shoe tongue. As per sources, Nike is refusing to disclose
the sales figures.
Nike Aims to Design an
AF1 that Connects to the Collaborators’ Personal Life
"This Air Force 1
season, Nike teamed up with a group of collaborators to design an AF1 that relates
to their life in person. Colin was selected because we think that his voice and
perspective motivate many generations while he is playing on the field as well
as personally," remarked Nike.
The collaboration comes after
a year when Nike released an advertising campaign presenting Kaepernick, who started
his protest against racial injustices and kneeled during the national anthem, initiating
a controversy across the US.
Release of Air Max 1
Trainers Called Off During Summer
During the summer, Nike agreed
not to disclose its Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July shoe, due to the concerns
from Kaepernick. He told the company that the shoes featured an old version of
the American flag with 13 white stars in a circle, which represented slavery
and white supremacy.
Nike is a key business
partner of the NFL, making it difficult sometimes, taking into consideration
the company's strong ties with the controversial player, Kaepernick. In
November, the league arranged a workout for the quarterback that attracted huge
interest of the media but less immediate attention from the National Football League
teams that sent some representatives to observe.