THE BEST SNEAKERS OF 2013! Latest News & AnnouncementsThree simple words, yet together they represent one of the most popular sports apparel companies in the world: Nike. However, over the years their great success has come with an even greater cost to those who suffer under their inhumane sweatshop practices. All over the globe, from first to third world, Nike employs more than 1 million workers in approximately 841 different factories. But what is truly interesting about these 1 million plus employees is how they are distributed throughout different countries. The U.S. is currently home to 66 of these factories, and employs 8,151 men and women. Comparatively, Indonesia, a smaller and poorer country, has only 40 factories, yet employs 171,276 workers — the majority of which are young women and children. How is it that, in a much smaller developing country, the ratio of factories to workers is so drastically higher than in the U.S.? Indonesia and other countries such as Vietnam and China present Nike with the attractive manufacturing quality of inexpensive sweatshop labor.

On a day-to-day basis, their employees work long hours under terrible conditions for a small sum of money. Jim Keady, founder of the nonprofit organization Team Sweat that works to end Nike’s use of sweatshop labor, demonstrated the severe ramifications of these low wages. Keady traveled to Indonesia where he lived for a month with the families of those employed by these factories. There, he survived off the same wage these men and women were paid. Consequently, Keady lost approximately 24 pounds during one month from not being able to afford proper nutrition. Besides the unfair wages, Nike constantly abuses their workers in unimaginable ways. Stories have surfaced of workers who were beaten with Nike shoes, and some were even mutilated by machetes and left to die in the gutter. While direct violence is common in most sweatshops, Nike sweatshop supervisors have pushed this abuse to the next level. One of these dangerous punishment techniques is what the supervisors call “sun drenching.”

In this practice, the supervisors will find an employee who is working too slow on the production line, pull them out of line and have them stand under the hot sun for hours. In countries like Indonesia, which are located close to the equator, it's common for temperatures to reach over 100 degrees on a daily basis, which can cause health effects such as heat stroke.puma sport shoes sale Since the creation of the United Nations, the U.S. has played an important role as a permanent member on the Security Council. golf shoes with the best arch supportThe Security Council, comprised of 15 countries, makes executive U.N. decisions based on keeping peace and maintaining the security and well-being of the world. best golf shoes adidas

So if the U.S. holds such a powerful position in enacting global policy, then why do we continue to let one of the companies based in our nation exploit the men and women of other nations? After all, the way Nike treats its workers is violating numerous articles in the U.N.’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which declares all persons to be treated equally and held to the same level of human dignity.puma sport shoes lowest price Groups such as Team Sweat have advocated their own change in persuading Nike to rethink some of their practices, yet our own government has failed to do the same in recent years. cheap puma shoes ukHowever, in the end, it takes all of us to end the sweatshop labor practices of Nike and other corporations. discount nike mens running shorts

Even our school as a whole can take charge in ending the way we dehumanize others for our own profit. After all, how can we foster men and women who will enact change if we overlook the fact that each and every one of our athletes wears a uniform created through the blood, sweat and tears of those trying to make a better life for themselves? Your support ID is: 8124203557343585977.Nike has confirmed that no All-Star themed footwear has been prepared for the festivities, ending a long-standing tradition of sneaker releases that were, at on point, the most sought-after items on the market. It’s only been three years since Nike’s “NOLA Gumbo League” born from New Orleans flavor was released, and the change of venue removing the game from Charlotte may have played a role, but the larger picture is that Nike Basketball’s signature shoes aren’t the hotly coveted items like they used to be. How Nike Basketball’s All-Star kicks and the category in general fallen from grace can easily be identified.

Does that mean the formula for a comeback is as obvious? Above: Nike’s All-Star Collection release in February 2012 at The Florida Mall (Photo: NPR) Let’s rewind a bit to 2010, when Nike Basketball was was producing the hottest tickets in the game. Nike’s signature shoe line-up that year consisted of the Kobe V, LeBron 7, and KD 2 – all widely embraced by their respective fans and the sneakerhead community alike. The All-Star versions, which featured wood-grain detailing with reflective pop, are considered to be among the best All-Star releases ever. Nike Sportswear’s red-hot Foamposite and Penny line only fortified Nike Basketball’s place as number one, with 2012’s release of the “Galaxy” Collection transforming mall parking lots into war-zones. Until 2013, Nike Basketball was the only game in town, rivaled only by Jordan Retros. But during that “dynasty”, the landscape of the shoe industry was much different. For one, knit sneakers didn’t exist.

Flyknit would not be introduced at mass retail until mid-2012, and adidas Primeknit didn’t really make a mark until 2015 with the Ultra Boost. What the meteoric rise of the Roshe in 2013 (the shoe debuted in 2012) told us was that consumers cared less about bells and whistles and more about simplicity and budget. Nike Basketball in 2013 was the exact polar opposite of what the Roshe represented; the former pushed innovation and borderline belligerent colorways, whereas the latter represented a peaceful zen while using the most inexpensive materials suitable for footwear. Above: Original design sketch for the Nike Roshe Run (Photo: How To Make It) The Roshe was a force to be reckoned with because it kick-started the low-profile, low-frills footwear trend. Flyknit models were essentially higher-end knit shoes that achieved that same look, setting the stage for adidas to dominate with the Ultra Boost, NMD, Yeezy, and so on. Meanwhile, Nike Basketball stayed true to their innovative spirit and produced some impressive models, but the evolving aesthetic wasn’t what casual consumers, aka the majority, were clamoring for.

Pair decreasing demand with increasing prices/production and the most elementary economist will cringe hard. By 2014, Nike was getting fat off the Roshe and other unearthed models like the Air Huarache, which required almost zero marketing. There’s something about big dollars being thrown around that deters sneakerheads because sneaker culture was born from organic trends, and once brands try to capitalize, long term success is unlikely (Nike SB, we’re looking at you). Basketball shoes are a much more lucrative category backed by a multi-billion dollar professional league, with athletes being paid nine figures just to wear the shoes, so where’s the “cult” factor in that? Above: Steph Curry in China debuting the UA Curry 2.5 (Photo: Under Armour) In addition to evolving footwear trends, Nike Basketball took a bit of a hit on the sales and PR front thanks to Steph Curry and Under Armour. You’ve heard the story a million times over: Steph is essentially thrown to the side by Nike, with the story of the infamous last-ditch pitch to Steph and father Dell only adding to the ridicule.

Now signed with Under Armour, Steph goes on to have one of the best seasons in NBA history and perhaps the best two-year stretch ever. (We have to point out that Under Armour’s Curry line got just as cold for basically the same reasons that Nike Basketball did, but we’ll get deeper into that later.) So why exactly is Nike Basketball forgoing an All-Star collection? Nike recognizes that the demand just isn’t there anymore and another set of superfluous colorways will do nothing but check a box internally while telling its consumers to expect more of the same. But it appears that the once mighty category is finally grounded and fully aware of its surroundings, and from there is a much-needed restructuring, wiping the slate clean and breaking the formula that they created in the first place. Still, the Kyrie 3 is among the best-selling basketball shoes, and reaction to Paul George’s PG1 is very positive. Will Nike Basketball shoes reach that pinnacle of industry power again?