Foot Locker and Nike have partnered with Crenshaw community leaders to launch The Crenshaw Rec by Foot Locker, a new retail destination in South Los Angeles. Located at 3222 W Slauson Ave on Crenshaw Boulevard, the store is inspired by the neighbourhood's spirit and the legacy of Nipsey Hussle. The retail experience celebrates basketball, entrepreneurship and creativity that define the area. Modelled after traditional recreation centres that serve as gathering places for sport, culture and connection, the store represents a first-of-its-kind concept. The Crenshaw Rec by Foot Locker is set to open on Saturday, 22 August. The partnership aims to honour one of Los Angeles' most influential neighbourhoods through this unique retail format.

Harlem's Fashion Row commissions custom Nike Air Force 1s for charity. Harlem's Fashion Row has partnered with Foot Locker and five Black designers to create a limited custom collection of the Nike Air Force 1, leveraging the silhouette's deep roots in New York street culture. The 10-piece collection bypasses traditional retail entirely - all pairs will be sold through charity auction, with proceeds supporting UNCF scholarships and education initiatives. The Nike Air Force 1 occupies a particular place in Harlem's cultural inventory. Since its 1982 introduction, the silhouette has woven itself into the neighborhood's identity as thoroughly as any building or street corner. That historical resonance forms the conceptual spine of Harlem's Fashion Row's latest initiative - a collaboration that treats the Air Force 1 not as a product to be rereleased, but as a canvas for cultural dialogue. Deal Available 89% OFF Up to 88% OFF Kid's Nike NBA Jerseys (Triple White) $10 $90 Save $80 Working alongside Foot Locker, HFR invited five Black designers to deconstruct and rebuild the silhouette around their own aesthetic frameworks. Rather than simple recolors or material swaps, each interpretation incorporates elements of fashion, art, and lived experience while preserving the Air Force 1's essential DNA. The resulting collection comprises 10 pairs, each distinct enough to function as individual statements rather than variations on a single theme. Design & concept. The project centers on the designers' autonomy to push beyond the baseline. Each pair reflects a designer's point of view - their color sense, material knowledge, and relationship to the shoe's legacy. The execution underscores a principle often absent from mainstream collaborations: that reinterpretation means genuine creative control, not approved tweaks within predetermined parameters. By anchoring the collection to the Air Force 1's Harlem lineage, HFR sidesteps the need for elaborate justification. The shoe's presence in the neighborhood predates its global ubiquity by decades. That temporal specificity - recognizing where the silhouette actually took root before it became a worldwide staple - gives the collection an authenticity that pure commerce cannot manufacture. Charity auction & release structure. All 10 pairs bypass conventional retail channels. Instead, HFR has structured the collection as a charity auction benefiting UNCF (United Negro College Fund), directing proceeds toward scholarship programs and educational access. This model prioritizes impact over inventory turnover - a deliberate pivot from standard sneaker release mechanics. Bidding runs through August 14, 2026, at 3 PM EDT, with all lots available through the project's online auction platform. The timeframe suggests a measured approach, allowing genuine interest rather than artificial scarcity to drive valuations. The Air Force 1 in context. The Air Force 1's trajectory from basketball utility to cultural artifact is inseparable from its adoption in Harlem and across New York's broader streetwear ecosystem. By centering that geography and history, HFR reclaims a narrative often flattened into generic "sneaker culture" discourse. The shoe belongs to Harlem first - its later global status is secondary to that originary relationship. This approach also contrasts with the dominant release cycle. While Nike currently maintains an expansive catalog (its deal tracking shows 61 active Nike offers across major retailers, averaging 36% off), most of that volume follows predictable templates. A limited custom collection sold exclusively through charity auction operates in an entirely different register - one where ownership connects to support for specific educational outcomes rather than algorithmic retailing. FAQs. When does bidding close on the Harlem's Fashion Row Air Force 1 collection? Bidding remains open through August 14, 2026, at 3 PM EDT. All 10 pairs are available exclusively through the project's online charity auction. Where can I place a bid? All 10 pairs are available through the Harlem's Fashion Row charity auction platform. Bidding is conducted entirely online. Who benefits from the auction proceeds? All proceeds support UNCF (United Negro College Fund), which provides scholarships and education programs for students. Deal Available Up to 88% OFF Kid's Nike NBA Jerseys (Triple White) $9.99 $90.00 Save $80.01 Nike under retail Browse Nike items priced below retail on StockX Release info. Availability: Charity auction (online exclusive) Collection Size: 10 custom pairs Auction Deadline: August 14, 2026, 3 PM EDT Proceeds Benefit: UNCF scholarships and education programs Platform: Harlem's Fashion Row charity auction nike air-force-1

Foot Locker launches "It Always Will Be Foot Locker," a new brand platform celebrating more than 50 years at the center of sneaker culture. Aug 07, 2026, 09:00 ET A cinematic tribute to the people, stories, and moments that continue to shape sneaker culture NEW YORK, Aug. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Foot Locker today unveiled It Always Will Be Foot Locker, a new brand platform that reflects the Company's enduring role at the center of sneaker and basketball culture. Anchored by a two-minute brand anthem narrated by Method Man, the campaign marks the next chapter in Foot Locker's brand evolution, honoring the iconic stories, defining moments, and cultural influence that have shaped sneaker culture for more than five decades and continue to drive it forward. Created in partnership with creative agency Someplace, the hero film brings iconic chapters in sneaker culture to life, showcasing the lasting influence of some of the most iconic footwear ever made. From the arrival of the original red-and-black Air Jordan 1 in 1985 and the timeless tennis legacy of the adidas Stan Smith, to the return of the legendary Converse Weapon in 1986, the appeal of the New Balance Grey styles, and the cultural mainstay of the iconic Nike Air Force 1, each scene highlights the powerful role sneakers play in self-expression across generations. Across every era, the Foot Locker Striper remains a constant, symbolizing the brand's longstanding role connecting sneaker enthusiasts with the products, brands, and communities that continue to shape culture. "For more than 50 years, Foot Locker has given sneaker culture a true home, helping define its iconic moments and milestones," said Brett O'Brien, SVP, Chief Marketing Officer at Foot Locker. "It Always Will Be Foot Locker is our love letter to that legacy and to the generations of customers and communities who have shaped it alongside us. It celebrates where sneaker culture has been, reflects where it is today, and inspires the next generation to write the next chapter with us." "As someone who has been part of sneaker culture for decades, this project felt personal," said Method Man. "Sneakers have always been bigger than footwear. They represent where you're from, what inspires you, and the moments that shape you. That's what makes this campaign so authentic. It celebrates the culture that's brought people together for generations while reminding us that the next chapter is still being written." The debut film marks the launch of an integrated campaign spanning broadcast, social, digital, out-of-home and in-store, bringing the platform to life across culture. Foot Locker is continuing to elevate the voices and stories that define sneaker culture through the recent launch of Sole Stories, a short-form documentary series created in partnership with Hartbeat, the global entertainment studio and distribution network. The 36-episode series spotlights creators, tastemakers, and sneaker enthusiasts as they share the sneakers that have shaped their journeys, from long-sought grails to pairs defining milestones and memories. Rolling out throughout the fall across social, digital, influencer, and in-store channels, Sole Stories extends the It Always Will Be Foot Locker platform by celebrating the deep emotional connections people forge through sneakers and the stories they carry across generations, reinforcing that sneaker culture is built as much on personal memories as it is on iconic moments. About Foot Locker Foot Locker is a leading footwear and apparel retailer. With a global presence across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and a licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Foot Locker has a strong history of sneaker authority that sparks discovery and ignites the power of sneaker culture. SOURCE Foot Locker, Inc.