LeBron James says his new Nike sneaker was inspired by African-American women
What a week for Nike.
LeBron James has revealed his newest Nike collaboration, inspired by his belief that "African-American women are some of the strongest people on earth." And it is stunning.
Celebrating the power of "some amazingly strong women" including his mother, wife and daughter, James' HFR x LeBron 16 was unveiled at the Harlem Fashion Row Showcase Gala on Tuesday.
“As someone who has a platform, because of what I do, I thought it was important to lend that platform to a group of people that I believe are under-recognized,” said James in a press statement.
"Being the son, husband and father of strong African American women, I felt like this was something I wanted to do for them and for all the strong women out there who are succeeding despite what might be stacked against them."
The HFR x LeBron 16 is the result of a collaboration between the G.O.A.T. and New York City-based fashion collective Harlem Fashion Row, which "provides a voice for multicultural designers," especially women.
It's the very first LeBron signature shoe to be reimagined by female designers.
Commissioned by Nike and James to reimagine the basketball legend's signature LeBron 16 model, HFR founder Brandice Daniels recruited designers Kimberly Goldson, Felisha Noel, and Undra Celeste Duncan for the project.
"We each had something that connected the four of us based on what LeBron saw from his mom, and the sacrifices she made for him," said Goldson in a press statement.
"My mom did it. LeBron’s mom did the same for him. The connectivity was there between all of us."
HFR teamed up with Nike global basketball footwear designer Meline Khatachourian, and James' longtime footwear designer Jason Petrie for the release.
The HFR x LeBron 16 drops Sept. 7 as a limited release, exclusively on SNKRS in North America and on nike.com.
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Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror.
