This Nike Kyrie 8 Brings Awareness To Indigenous And Aboriginal Peoples

Published October 18, 2022

Taking influence from Native American and Indigenous culture, Nike’s N7 product line not only has dressed various silhouettes in special colorways but has also awarded more than $8 million in grants to help the youth get involved in sports. One major athlete currently signed to The Swoosh, Kyrie Irving, has Native American heritage in his family. More specifically, his mother was a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and officially became a member of the tribe in 2021. Even before this, a few of his signature sneakers with Nike were given the N7 treatment and featured nods to Standing Rock with his newest model, the Nike Kyrie 8, joining in on the party.

Dressed in olive flak across the majority of the upper, the performance basketball-ready model gets additional details that nod to Irving’s Native American roots like his Lakota name (Hela) written atop the tongue tag. Just below that sits “Standing Rock” text, denoting his connection to the tribe. Throughout the rest of the sneaker, accenting hits of color can be found on the white laces, the grey and orewood brown Nike Swoosh, and through the felt eyestays that come in a slightly lighter olive hue. The final connection to Irving’s Native American heritage comes via the Nike N7-branded insole, coming in a bright yellow shade. Other details throughout the shoe pay homage to his mother Elizabeth, like her name spelled out and Roman numerals denoting her birthday found on the lateral side of the toe and heel respectively. Rounding out the design is the two-tone olive and white midsole, featuring a full-length Air Zoom Strobel unit, paired with a grippy rubber outsole.

The Nike Kyrie 8 N7 is set to release during the Holiday 2022 season through Nike and select retailers online and in-store. Coming in men’s sizing, the retail price is set at $130. Keep it locked to our Twitter and the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest happenings in sneakers, streetwear, and more.