Nike’s 22nd Doernbecher Freestyle collection was unveiled Friday, debuting six new silhouettes designed by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children’s Hospital patients across a variety of models ranging from classic sneakers to some of the sportswear company’s latest innovations.
Each sneaker included in the latest collection is making its first-ever appearance in the long-running Doernbecher Freestyle program. Models include the Nike Air Max 1/97, Nike Structure Plus, Nike Air Force 1 Mid, Nike ACG Rufus, Nike GT Future and Air Jordan 11 Retro Low IE.
As usual with the Beaverton, Ore.-based company’s philanthropic Doernbecher Freestyle collections, each patient-designer was given full freedom to let their imaginations run wild on the shoes, implementing custom personalized details and heart-warming references to their medical experiences.
“For 22 years, Nike and OHSU Doernbecher have celebrated a powerful belief: All kids deserve the opportunity to reach their greatest potential in sport and in life. Nike is creating a future of youth sport where every kid feels welcome, Doernbecher is providing lifesaving care to help patients thrive, and we proudly come together via the Doernbecher Freestyle program to put kids at the heart of one of Nike’s most beloved collaborations,” Vanessa Garcia-Brito, vice president and chief impact officer of Nike, Inc., said in a press release.
The Nike Air Max 1/97 is designed by Owen William Flint, an 11-year old patient diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. The black, orange and yellow design references Owen’s love for superheroes and dirt bikes which are emphasized through splattered paint accents and comic book-like lenticular graphics.
Nike’s stability-focused Structure Plus running shoe gets reinvented by 9-year-old Aurora Loss, a patient with bilateral dysplastic kidneys. Aurora’s Structure Plus design highlights her interest in Japanese kawaii culture with cherry blossom and anime-inspired detailing.
12-year-old Royce Short, who has a tracheoesophageal fistula, redesigned Nike’s Air Force 1 Mid with details inspired by his love for fishing, dirt biking and rodeos. Royce’s Western-themed design includes belt buckle hardware, a custom logo for the company he aspires to start when he grows up and a giant bass graphic on the translucent outsole.
The ACG Rufus slip-on was reworked by 15-year-old Charlye Cosgrove, who has osteosarcoma. Charlye’s ACG Rufus design references her pink camouflage baby shoes while adding a moss-like fuzzy green Swoosh as a nod to her Pacific Northwest upbringing. The shoe also features a UV-activated upper which changes colors and reveals hidden graphics.
17-year-old Kamoryn Marshall had the opportunity to work on Nike’s GT Future basketball sneaker. The mismatched sneaker features a pink-to-purple gradient fade, colors that were selected so they’d be easily visible despite Kamoryn being colorblind. Chrome details were chosen to represent the patient’s titanium right hip as a result of his hip osteoarthritis diagnosis.
The Air Jordan 11 Retro Low IE was the canvas for Avery Wilson, a 13-year-old patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The sneaker’s mix of bright and vibrant pastels were chosen to express joy and its design is packed with doodles and characters drawn by Avery. It includes custom friendship bracelets and a keychain depicting Greg, a British alien that Avery conceptualized.
The full Nike Doernbecher Freestyle 22 collection was auctioned Friday in Portland and will see a wider release in the U.S. this winter from Nike’s Snkrs app and select retailers. As always, 100 percent of profits from the collection will benefit the OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.