Andrew Pace
In 2012, Nike became the first sneaker brand to release a Pride sneaker collection. Since then, the company has released several sneakers celebrating gay pride and the LGBTQ+ community. One of the most notable releases is the 2019 BeTrue Air Max 90s, which honour Gilbert Baker's original 1978 Pride flag design. Nike's 2022 Pride Month collection also includes a unique pair of Dunk Lows with pink and blue mismatched laces in honour of the Trans Pride flag. While some people criticise the designs of these shoes, many others appreciate them as meaningful efforts to make the sneaker community more inclusive.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | BeTrue |
| Year of Launch | 2013 |
| Type of Shoes | Frees and one-off basketball shoes |
| Variants | Sock Dart BeTrue, Air Max 90s, Air Max 97, AF1, SB Dunk Low BeTrue |
| Features | Rainbow gradient details, mismatched laces, white design, rainbow embroidery, plastic overlay |
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What You'll Learn
Nike's #BeTrue Pack
Pride sneakers are a symbol of LGBTQ+ support, identity, and visibility, promoting inclusivity. In 2012, Nike became the first sneaker brand to release a Pride sneaker collection. Since then, Nike has released several Pride sneaker collections, including the #BeTrue Pack, to celebrate gay pride and show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
Nike's inaugural BETRUE collection was released in 2013, featuring Frees and one-off basketball shoes. However, the collection truly came into its own in 2015 with the release of the Sock Dart 'BETRUE', a cult favourite that featured a black base with rainbow gradient details and a unique plastic overlay lacing system.
In 2019, Nike's BETRUE collection paid homage to Gilbert Baker, the creator of the iconic Pride Flag, with sneakers like the Air Max 90s honouring his original 1978 design. That year, Nike also released the Air Max 97, enhancing the 26-year-old design with rainbow ruffles.
Nike's 2020 "BeTrue" collection was inspired by ballroom culture in 1980s New York City, featuring the AF1 with formal brogue-style outlines and an iridescent Swoosh. The collection also included the Chuck Taylor All-Star Lift Pride sneakers, with a split rainbow midsole and confetti outsole, and the SB Dunk Low 'BETRUE', which started out low-key with a white upper and clever wavy stitching, revealing a burst of colour as the outer layer wears off.
Nike's 2022 Pride Month collection included the unique Dunk Lows with pink and blue mismatched laces honouring the Trans Pride flag. While the design may seem simple, it hides a secret: as the outer layer wears off, colourful blotches begin to show through.
While some critics have dismissed Pride sneakers as mere marketing ploys or lazy designs, many in the LGBTQ+ community have embraced them as a source of pride and visibility. Nike's #BeTrue Pack and subsequent releases are a testament to the brand's ongoing commitment to celebrating diversity and promoting inclusivity through its footwear designs.
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Sock Darts
Nike's inaugural BETRUE collection, which celebrates gay pride and the LGBTQIA+ community, was released in 2013. The collection initially focused on Frees and one-off basketball shoes. However, it wasn't until 2015 that the collection gained prominence with the release of the Sock Dart BETRUE. The Sock Dart BETRUE is a cult favourite from the Nike Sportswear catalogue. It features a unique design, eschewing the traditional lacing system in favour of a plastic overlay. The shoe is predominantly black with rainbow gradient details atop the plastic overlay, creating a tasteful and low-key lifestyle homage to the LGBTQIA+ community.
The Sock Dart BETRUE is not the only Nike shoe to show support for the LGBTQIA+ community. In 2019, Nike released the BeTrue Air Max 90s, honouring Gilbert Baker's original 1978 Pride flag design. Nike's 2022 Pride Month collection also included a unique pair of Dunk Lows with pink and blue mismatched laces in honour of the Trans Pride flag. The white shoe design includes a secret feature: when the finish wears off, blotches of colour from the Pride flag begin to show through. Nike also released the SB Dunk Low 'BETRUE', which features a white upper embellished with wavy stitching on the heel, embroidered graphics, stash pockets, and more. This shoe also includes wear-away detailing that reveals the colours of the Pride flag over time.
Nike's BETRUE collection has evolved since its inception in 2013, with the brand releasing a range of shoes that celebrate gay pride and the LGBTQIA+ community. The Sock Dart BETRUE, released in 2015, stands out as a unique and tasteful design, showcasing Nike's commitment to inclusivity and diversity. By continuing to release Pride-themed shoes, Nike sends a powerful message of support and visibility to the LGBTQIA+ community.
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Nike's 2019 BeTrue Air Max 90s
Nike's BeTrue collection, first released in 2015, celebrates gay pride and the LGBTQ+ community. The collection has included various sneaker styles, such as Sock Darts and Air Max 90s, and has been well-received by the LGBTQ+ community as a symbol of support, identity, and visibility.
Pride sneakers have become an important way for footwear brands to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month. While some designs may be considered simplistic, such as a rainbow-coloured shoe, others have stood out for their creativity and boldness. For example, Nike's 2022 Pride Month collection included a unique pair of Dunk Lows with pink and blue mismatched laces honouring the Trans Pride flag. Similarly, Adidas' 2022 Pride collection featured a new spin on their original 1980s Campus shoe, with vibrant neon graphics that included a heart and all the colours of the rainbow.
Other brands that have released Pride shoe collections include Converse, Coach, and Crocs. Converse's 2022 collection was built around a "Found Family" theme, honouring the informal networks of support that LGBTQ+ people form. Coach supported LGBTQ+ nonprofit organisations through its charitable foundation. Crocs offered a trans-themed pack of Jibbitz charms, as well as a "Love Is Love" pack, allowing customers to customise their foam footwear with rainbow-themed charms.
Overall, Nike's 2019 BeTrue Air Max 90s are a significant release within the BeTrue collection, honouring the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement and celebrating the diversity and inclusivity of the community.
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Nike's 2022 Pride Month collection
Pride sneakers are a symbol of LGBTQ+ support, identity, and visibility, promoting inclusivity. Many brands have released their own versions of pride sneakers, including Nike, which has unveiled its 2022 Pride Month collection.
The collection features the Be True editions of the Nike Cortez, which have colourful, overlapping swooshes and blue and pink laces. There is also a lightweight and bold Nike Oneonta Be True sandal, which has colourful straps, a white footbed, and a black speckled outsole. Additionally, the collection includes the Nike SB Dunk Low Pros, with a classic white upper that rubs away to reveal an array of colours, including green, yellow, orange, and red accents.
Nike's apparel collection for Pride Month includes items such as the Nike Max90 tie-dye t-shirt and hoodie, available in two different colourways: blue, pink, and white, which nod to the trans flag; and black and grey. There are also the Nike Sunday Shorts, which feature the Be True logo and the Nike logo in a rainbow design.
Nike has also included customisable options in its 2022 Pride Month collection, allowing customers to personalise their sneakers with features like rub-away details and shoelace colours to match their style.
Nike's commitment to the LGBTQ+ community goes beyond its Pride Month collection. In 2021, the brand released a Pride collection and recognised 18 organisations advancing the LGBTQIA+ community, providing them with donations totalling $625,000. Nike also used its platform to showcase individuals advancing conversations about identity during Pride month.
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Nike's 2020 BeTrue collection
Nike's BeTrue collection has been an ongoing initiative to support the LGBTQIA+ community. The 2020 BeTrue collection was released on June 5, 2020, in Greater China and June 19, 2020, globally. The collection featured a spectrum of rainbow colours, with each shoe making a unique statement. The collection included the Air Max 2090, with transparent uppers, exposed stitches, and seams; the Air Force 1 Low with a rainbow on the heel tab and midsole logo, and the ACG Deschutz with a miniature pouch on the heel. The collection also included other footwear and clothing items, all adorned with the rainbow colours to symbolize LGBTQ+ support, identity, and visibility.
Nike has been devoted to equality causes for decades, advocating for equal opportunities, pay, and benefits for all. In 2020, the company supported over 20 organizations focused on advancing the LGBTQIA+ community, including the LGBT Center of Los Angeles, Portland Frontrunners, and the GLBT Historical Society Museum. The BeTrue collection is about celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and its impact, paying tribute to those who defy boundaries and stay true to themselves.
Nike's BeTrue collection has evolved over the years, with the 2022 Pride Month collection featuring a unique pair of Dunk Lows with pink and blue mismatched laces, honouring the Trans Pride flag. The shoe's white design reveals blotches of colour over time, making it a subtle yet powerful statement for the LGBTQ+ community. Other brands have also released Pride collections, including Adidas, which released a new spin on its original 1980s Campus shoe with vibrant neon graphics that include a heart and the colours of the rainbow.
Nike's BeTrue collection has received praise for its eye-catching designs and meaningful message. The collection provides an opportunity for individuals to express their support for the LGBTQIA+ community and celebrate its impact on athletes, artists, and boundary-pushing individuals. The collection's use of rainbow colours and unique designs has been a powerful way to promote inclusivity and visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community.
The BeTrue collection by Nike is a powerful statement of support for the LGBTQIA+ community, using footwear and apparel as a medium to express joy and freedom of expression. The collection has evolved over the years, with each release featuring unique designs that celebrate the community's impact and promote visibility. By partnering with organizations and charities, Nike has been able to further emphasize its dedication to equality and advancing the LGBTQIA+ community.
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Frequently asked questions
Nike's basketball shoes for gay pride are called the BETRUE collection.
The BETRUE collection is a range of sneakers that Nike releases to celebrate gay pride and support the LGBTQ+ community.
Nike's inaugural BETRUE collection appeared in 2013, but it wasn't until 2015 with the release of the Sock Dart 'BETRUE' that the collection really came into its own.
The collection includes the 2019 Air Max 90s, which honour Gilbert Baker's original 1978 Pride flag design, and the 2022 Pride Month collection features a unique pair of Dunk Lows with pink and blue mismatched laces in honour of the Trans Pride flag.
