Nike is honoring the legacy and cultural affect of Traditionally Black Schools and Universities (HBCUs) with its Yardrunners 5.0 assortment. Among the many two customized Air Pressure 1 designs featured on this 12 months’s launch, Kahlana Barfield Brown’s “Ice Cream” version stands out as a heartfelt celebration of historical past, heritage, and private delight.
Barfield Brown’s design pays homage to the wealthy traditions of HBCUs whereas weaving in deeply private components. The classic cream leather-based higher displays the historic significance of HBCUs, which date again to 1837. A brick-colored sock liner nods to the energy and iconic structure of those establishments, whereas the deep brown tongue, swoosh, and outsole honor melanin and the unity shared by HBCU college students. Crimson purple accents, impressed by her alma mater Howard College, her sorority, and her late grandmother, add a significant contact to the design. Finishing the look, Barfield Brown’s signature graces the heel, making the sneaker a tribute not solely to HBCUs however to her private journey.
“These aren’t simply sneakers—they’re a love letter to each Black pupil who’s ever walked The Yard,” Barfield Brown shared. “This design carries the soul of our HBCUs, the historical past that grounds us, and the excellence we supply into the world.”
The Yardrunners 5.0 assortment additionally incorporates a customized Air Pressure 1 by Virginia Union College (VUU) alum Dex Robinson. His design incorporates components that mirror VUU’s Panther mascot, together with a standout pony hair end that symbolizes energy and magnificence. Maroon laces and a steel-outlined Nike Swoosh signify the college’s colours, whereas heel tabs studying “Expensive Union” and “With Love, Dex Rob” add a private contact. The insole features a heartfelt letter from Robinson, paired with a silhouette of the VUU campus signal. Interchangeable pins, such because the VUU brand and Panther mascot, permit for additional customization.
Each Barfield Brown and Robinson’s designs have a good time the individuality of their experiences whereas embodying the shared delight and legacy of HBCUs. Nike’s Yardrunners 5.0 assortment builds on the model’s dedication to honoring HBCU tradition via significant collaborations and purpose-driven design.
The sneakers can be obtainable at choose retailers beginning December 18 and on the SNKRS app from December 20.
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