Brendan Dunne 
Nike has another rainbow flavored Be True collection coming for 2014, which is inspired by the LGBT community and will raise funds for the LGBT Sports Coalition. On the sneaker side of things the group includes the Nike Free OG, the Nike Free 5.0, and a Nike SB Stefan Janoski that each toss some rainbow coloring onto a black base. The launch will also be wrapped up in several community building events, where #BETRUE run clubs will meet up at four cities across the US to show their support through sport. Read the full details on the group with us after the break and watch for the 2014 Be True group to launch this week.
Nike is proud to announce the 2014 #BETRUE Collection of uniquely designed footwear and apparel that is inspired by the LGBT community, and celebrates the passion and pursuit of sport by all athletes. This year’s collection includes the Nike Free 5.0 and Nike Free OG, as well as the Nike SB Zoom Janoski. The signature #BETRUE T-shirt anchors the apparel pieces, with the addition of a #BETRUE tank and #BETRUE City Pack T-shirts that highlight the energy of #BETRUE in four cities across the United States.
The #BETRUE collection features rainbow colors as a reflection of the diversity within sports and Nike’s support for the LGBT community. The 2014 collection also continues to build on the #BETRUE print that launched in 2013, with an update to the bold geometric shapes and a unique pattern with the words “Be True” embedded in the print.
“We are a company committed to diversity, inclusion and unleashing human potential,” said Tim Hershey, Nike Vice President of Global Merchandising and Executive Chair of Nike’s LGBT & Friends Employee Network. “Nike believes if you have a body you are an athlete and we’re delighted that #BETRUE is becoming a call-to-action for all athletes to be their most authentic selves.”
Nike Free Run 5.0 and OG #BETRUE
In honor of the 10th anniversary of Nike Free, the 2014 #BETRUE collection includes both the Nike Free Run 5.0 and the Nike Free OG to celebrate the full spectrum of an athlete’s pursuit of sport—from performance to lifestyle. The Nike Free 5.0 features a reflective #BETRUE tribal print, which includes the words “Be True” among the bold patterns and shapes that compose the unique print. Nike Flywire on the 5.0 also reflects the color line in the gradient of the rainbow, and the sockliner and shoelaces also highlight #BETRUE. Both models create a rainbow between the left and right shoes when looking at the pair from multiple perspectives–front, back and above.
Nike SB Zoom Janoski
Professional skateboarder Stefan Janoski is one of several Nike elite athletes showing their support for #BeTrue in June. Janoski has lent his Be True signature to his signature shoe, the Nike SB Zoom Janoski. His hand-drawn Be True signatures on white canvas paper were turned into a rainbow print pattern for the upper, with no two pairs of the Nike SB Zoom Janoski #BETRUE exactly alike.
Nike #BETRUE City Pack and #BETRUE Run Clubs
City Pack T-shirts will be available exclusively at four Nike store locations to celebrate #BETRUE in those cities:
Los Angeles (LAX)
San Francisco (SF)
Portland, Oregon (PDX)
New York City (NYC).
Select Nike store locations will host #BETRUE run clubs in June:
June 4: Nike Santa Monica
June 5: The Grove and NTLA
June 14: Nike Portland
June 21: Nike Chicago
June 25: Nike SF
June 29: Nike NYC
Nike will donate up to $500,000 of net proceeds from the sales of the #BETRUE collection to the LGBT Sports Coalition to support the goal of ending discrimination in sport. Nike helped to found the coalition in 2011 and has supported its mission through the #BETRUE collection since 2012. Nike will host the coalition’s third-annual summit in Portland, Ore., on June 13-14.
The #BETRUE Collection will be available beginning June 3 at select factory stores and on June 5 at nike.com, select Nike Stores and additional Nike Factory locations.
Nike Stores:
Nike Seattle
Nike Portland
Nike San Francisco
Nike Union Street
Nike Running The Grove
Niketown LA
Nike Santa Monica
Nike Chicago
Nike Mall of America
Nike Boston
Nike Georgetown
Niketown NY
Nike Running Flatiron
Nike Factory locations:
Citadel (Los Angeles) – June 3
MLK (Portland, Ore.) – June 3
National Harbor (Washington, DC) – June 3
Somerville (Boston) – June 3
Aurora (Chicago) — June 15
Nike SB Stefan Janoski “Be True”
Color: Black/White-Multi-Color
Style Code: 702981-009
Release Date: 06/05/14
Price: $95
Nike Free OG ’14
Color: Black/White-Lite Crimson-Orange Horizon
Style Code: 695012-001
Release Date: 06/02/14
Price: $120
Nike Free 5.0
Color: Black/White-Lite Crimson-Blue Glow
Style Code: 698823–001
Release Date: 06/02/14
Price: $115
