These organizations include MENTOR and PeacePlayers International.
Case in point: We’re particularly in awe of Gucci’s pre-fall 2017 collection. Even fashion houses including Comme des Garçons and Gucci have incorporated rainbow into new designs. They also plan to donate $5 million in 2017 to various organizations that advance equality in communities across the U.S. From retail giants like Target to shoe labels like Nike and Adidas, brands create colorful apparel and footwear to commemorate Pride season. As an example, the AF1 carries a ten-color heel mark, which Nike says is inclusive of a spectrum of voices. In the United States, since 2012, Nike has provided approximately $2.5 million in financial and in-kind support to LGBTQ causes. These running shoes feature translucent and iridescent finishes, offering a new look that incorporates the rainbow seen in the More Colors, More Pride flag, which debuted in Philadelphia in 2017. The impact that Nike has made through these campaigns is incomparable to most others. According to their website, Mentor is “the unifying national organization in advancing quality youth mentoring relationships and connecting volunteers to opportunities in local communities.” PeacePlayers International is a program that uses the sport of basketball to “bridge divides, develop leaders, and change perceptions” in divided communities around the world. Nike has also recently partnered with MENTOR and PeacePlayers International to facilitate change within communities. Michael Jordan constantly reiterated the point of this movement, saying, “opportunity should be indiscriminate, worth should outshine color, the ball should bounce the same for everyone.” Rather, these words harken back to the messages that lie within the “Equality” campaign that question if this is the land history promised. The messages that are promoted on the products themselves go beyond branding and marketing techniques. With ‘Industry Baby,’ Lil Nas X Continues To Break Ground for Representation
Pink and turquoise were removed from the flag in 1979, which stood for sexuality and art/magic. The various colors are meant to symbolize diversity in the LGBTQ community: life (red), healing (orange), sunlight (yellow), nature (green), harmony and peace (blue) and spirit (purple/violet). With an emphasis on equality and athletic prowess, Nike maintains the eight colors of the original 1978 Pride Flag.
Nike is known for their ability to customize athletic wear from tees to shoes with their NIKEiD products initially, this allowed them to make select styles for the campaign in celebration of Pride Month. The “Be True” campaign started in 2012 as a way to connect with the LGBTQ community in a more personalized way. Equality should have no boundaries.” This message permeated the sports industry, thus allowing a natural progression to the introduction of the “Be True” campaign once again. In talking about the concrete court in the film, Jordan emphasizes, “Here, you’re defined by your actions, not your looks or beliefs. With the legendary Michael Jordan as the spokesman, Nike released a short film that sends a message about the idea of boundaries.