Bunky
Echo-Hawk, of the Pawnee Nation in Oklahoma and Yakama Nation in Washington,
is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts who is focused
on fine art, graphic design, photography, creative writing, traditional
singing and dancing, community outreach and a unique style of live
art aimed at merging his traditional values with art for greater
purpose.
Echo-Hawks design for the Nike N7
collection T-shirts focuses on the traditional native warrior holding
a basketball in a strike pose, embodying his belief, and interpretation
of Nike N7, that there is a warrior within every athlete. Echo-Hawk
portrays the warrior with an eagle feather standing straight up
within a roach head dress, and scalp feathers positioned to the
side of his head. The warrior is positioned in the basketball triple
threat stance, which readies the athlete for any move he or she
needs to make next--shoot, pass or dribble. Celestial stars embrace
the warrior in the design, providing a connection to the earth.
The T-shirts designed by Echo-Hawk are made with organic cotton
and will be available in challenge red and dark grey heather for
women and challenge red and dark turquoise for men.
Basketball was a big part of my
life growing up. It was my first sport, and I was obsessed with
it, getting as far as starting varsity point guard in high school.
The connection between sport and traditional Native values has always
interested me, so I was inspired to make a larger statement through
my art when I learned about the work of Nike through the N7 program.
-- Bunky Echo-Hawk
Im
excited about Nike N7s partnership with Bunky Echo-Hawk on
our latest N7 collection. Through his inspiration and interpretation
of Nike N7, weve created something incredibly unique that
not only reflects Native culture, but also invites conversation
so that others can learn more about Nike N7 and our commitment to
create access to sport to youth in Native American and Aboriginal
communities. -- Sam McCracken, General Manager of Nike N7
The Nike N7 collection is an important
part of Nikes overall commitment to inspire Native American
and Aboriginal communities, with a focus on youth, to lead physically
active lives as a means to create positive change. The collection
includes performance footwear for the general consumer and is designed
with the environment and the future of these communities in mind.
The collection is designed with cues from Native American culture
and embodies Nikes Considered Design ethos. The intent of
the collection is to raise awareness beyond Native American and
Aboriginal communities for the N7 Program and the N7 Fund. This
is the first time Nike has collaborated with an artist for the Nike
N7 collection and it is the fourth release of product for the Nike
N7 collection since it launched in November 2009.
The Bunky Echo-Hawk T-Shirts for the Nike
N7 Collection, as well as the Nike N7 Logo Tee, the Nike N7 Money
Short, the Nike Air Pegasus+ 28 (for men, women, kids) and the Nike
N7 Air Max Destiny basketball shoe, will be available beginning
July 28 at select Nike Retail locations in the U.S. and at www.nikestore.com
(search N7).
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