August 12th, 2010
It’s been the summer of basketball. From Lebron James’ move to Miami to news on the Nets’ future home in Brooklyn. Now Nike has partnered with players from all over the world to bring them to the first World Basketball Festival (August 12-15) held in New York City. They’re also bringing in some entertainment. Jay-Z will perform and has also designed five pairs of Nike sneakers (which each represent a team/country playing in the World Basketball Championships). He naturally gets to keep of each style, but he’s donating the only other ones in existence to his charity, the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation, which offers financial assistance to kids who want to go to college but can’t afford it. Those five pairs will be auctioned off, starting today on eBay, with all the proceeds going to the SCSF.
It’s been the summer of basketball: From Lebron James’s move to Miami to news on the Nets’ future home in Brooklyn. Now USA basketball is launching the first ever World Basketball Festival, August 12-15 in New York City, with exhibition games to help the USA team prep for the 2010 FIBA World Basketball Championship. Nike has partnered with the players to bring teams from all over world to the event. They’re also bringing in some entertainment. Jay-Z is just one of the scheduled performers, but he’s doing more than simply arriving onstage. The hip-hop super star has designed five pairs of Nike sneakers (which each represent a team/country playing in the World Basketball Championships). Ten pairs of actual shoes have been made—two in each style. Jay-Z naturally gets to keep a pair of each. The only other ones in existence? They’re being auctioned off starting today on eBay, with proceeds going to Jay-Z’s charity, the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation, which offers financial assistance to kids who want to go to college but can’t afford it. The auction begins at 9am and runs through August 22.
But more on the design of those shoes: They’re Nike Air Force Ones, and the style is All Black Everything. The countries respresented are USA, China, Brazil, France and Puerto Rico. What differentiates each pair? Mostly, the way Jay-Z has mixed materials. For instance, Brazil’s shoe has plenty of patent leather, while the China Style is mostly suede.
Wanna get your hands on pair of these Nike x Jay-Z originals? Click here for the auction.
Lauren Sherman is a fashion and culture writer based in Brooklyn. She currently works as an editor at Fashionista.com.
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