FAMU Nike Dunk Low sneakers launch at Tallahassee APB
Florida A&M College just got new bragging legal rights with the launch of its possess Nike Dunk Lower. The classy sneaker was completely introduced Friday at the APB Store in CollegeTown.
Students, alumni and sneakerheads lined up exterior the West Gaines Street shop for a prospect to buy the sneakers that are only obtainable at the Tallahassee APB retailer when materials last. Data was not released on how lots of of the $120 sneakers were being available.
“It’s one thing specific for an HBCU to have their possess pair of dunks,” stated Angie Smith, a FAMU alumna who arrived out to invest in a pair of the sneakers and aid her good friend Caitlyn Davis, a FAMU graduate decided on by Nike to layout the FAMU design of the footwear.
“FAMU is all the things to me. I’m also a sneaker collector, so for a shoe to arrive out that was designed by my mate I had to appear out in this article and get in line,” Smith stated inside the shop.
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The sneaker is made with FAMU’s campus and culture in mind. “WE BRAGG Distinct,” alongside with the school’s founding 12 months, operates across the back again of the shoes to stand for Bragg Stadium.
Beneath the tongue of the sneaker is the inscription, “Strike, Strike and Strike Again” and the base is an orange and inexperienced snakeskin with an icy blue deal with. The laces are tipped with “FAMULY” and embroidered in eco-friendly is the acronym “COLAC”, for the “college of appreciate and charity.”
The shoes will be obtainable on Nike’s SNKRS app as of Oct. 18, in accordance to Davis’s Instagram.
Davis, an Atlanta indigenous, explained she labored on the shoe for extra than a 12 months, even consulting with FAMU President Larry Robinson on structure selections. Davis graduated from FAMU in 2018 with a degree in biology/pre-medicine. She beforehand collaborated with Nike on the debut Yardrunner campaign, which showcased HBCUs and their wealthy background and society.
“We have been capable to converse to massive Nike leaders and present them that HBCUs are the tradition, and we are the types driving the pounds to their footwear,” Davis reported of herself and the other designers for the other Nike HBCU dunks. Other HBCUs with their individual design are Clark Atlanta University, North Carolina A&T College and Tennessee Point out University.
The Tallahassee APB shop is managed by Lunden Austin, a Tallahassee indigenous. He invited neighborhood artist, Matthew Forrest, who is also acknowledged as Briteso, to do a dwell portray of the sneakers inside of the retailer. DJ Demp furnished the tunes and free of charge food stuff was offered from Pineappetit.
Two customers of the Marching 100 attended to help Davis.
“They requested for Marching 100 customers to appear out and assistance and I imagine it is seriously dope,” explained Rae’kwan Bostic, an alto saxophone member of the Marching 100. “I love all the publicity FAMU is acquiring from the shoe.”
Hopeful customers lined the avenue early, with some waiting around in line for hours and traveling far for a prospect to cop the spirited sneakers.
“I heard almost everything was initially-appear, to start with-served so I came out early,” claimed Quentin Williams, who was line by 9 a.m. with good friends for the noon opening.
On Thursday, APB gave a pair of the sneakers to Robinson and FAMU’s head football mentor Willie Simmons.
Jordan Smith, a business administration university student at FAMU who owns a thrift garments business enterprise called Gar-bage, mentioned he was inspired by designer Caitlyn Davis’s entrepreneurial spirit and adore for FAMU.
“We are truly out listed here to accept and respect every little thing that FAMU has done and almost everything that we do for FAMU.”
Andre Rhodes by no means attended FAMU, but he drove from Miami Friday morning to buy the sneakers and incorporate to his sneaker collection.
“I think it is the most effective HBCU selection that Nike has accomplished so considerably,” Rhodes claimed.
Speak to Democrat writer Alaijah Brown at [email protected] and on Twitter at @BrownAlaijah.