Beginning in 2020, the Nike Yardrunners campaign highlighted various HBCUs and their students by promoting the success of entrepreneurs and releasing apparel collections featuring various HBCU schools. With their second collection, former student-athletes were the focus of the campaign, though 2022 will encompass much more. For the Yardrunners 3.0, The Swoosh will be handing out scholarships, recruiting the next generation of talent, and co-creating products like the already-previewed Nike Dunk Low HBCU Pack.
When it comes to the design process of the Nike Dunk collection (which covers Florida A&M University, Tennessee State University, Clark Atlanta University, and North Carolina A&T University), The Swoosh looked to four black women who previously attended each respectively HBCU to get an authentic representation of each school. Florida A&M gets its “COLAC” nickname (College of Love and Charity), as well as phrases students of the HBCU would know like “We Bragg Different” and “Strike, Strike, and Strike Again!” Other schools also feature similar details like North Carolina A&T’s award-winning yearbook, Ayantee, getting written on the included lace set.
On top of the Dunks, 19 HBCUs have their own Nike-branded apparel collection that is currently available to purchase here. Schools include the four previously mentioned colleges as well as the Kentucky State Thorobreds, North Carolina Central Eagles, and Tuskegee Golden Tigers.
This continued commitment to the African American community and HBCUs is helping fulfill Nike’s goal of focusing on a community that has large ties to the brand's success as a whole. Back in 2020, The Swoosh committed to donating $40 million to organizations that help fight against injustices, promote social justice, and educate citizens on the issues faced by the African American community.
The Nike Yardrunners 3.0 campaign is currently underway with the previously mentioned HBCU apparel collection available to purchase on nike.com. For the Dunk Pack, Nike is giving current and former students of the four HBCUs featured first access by releasing the pairs at select NBHD Nike stores in the cities of each university. Following this, a wider release should go down during each school's homecoming while a Nike SNKRS drop is set to go down in the near future. Keep it locked to our Twitter and the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest updates regarding Nike Yardrunners 3.0 and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Nike Dunk Low “FAMU”
Nike Dunk Low “CAU”
Nike Dunk Low “North Carolina A&T”
Nike Dunk Low “TSU”
