Zion's Nike Air Force 1 '07 LV8 (Doernbecher Freestyle)

DESIGNED BY THE FIGHTER.

Zion's Nike Air Force 1 '07 LV8 transforms the legendary b-ball shoe into an emblem of hope. Despite being diagnosed with lymphoma last year, Zion is known for her upbeat, fun-loving personality. Given the chance to express her own message for the Doernbecher Freestyle program, her shoe features embroidered roses, which to her symbolize growth, perseverance, beauty and strength. "SURVIVOR" is repeated throughout the shoe, echoing the mantra of the roses, while the embossed leather upper that she chose adds a classic, versatile look.

Zion's Roses

The embroidered roses create the shoe's Swoosh and nod to Zion's symbol of growth, beauty and strength. As she points out, “When you’re starting treatment, you feel pretty small, like a closed rosebud. But your bravery helps you bloom and in the end, you grow beautiful and strong.”

Zion's Word

"SURVIVOR" is repeated throughout the shoe, echoing Zion's word of choice when describing her journey with cancer. “Throughout all this, people have called me lots of kind things, like ‘courageous’ and ‘strong.’ But out of all of them, ‘survivor’ is the word that feels the most empowering, because it reminds me that I’ll get through this,” she says.

Zion's Style

Zion chose the embossed leather upper for its clean, classic look. The simple design allows other elements, like the roses and repeated "SURVIVOR" to pop and become emblems for others. “I want to inspire all the other kids out there who are survivors too.” She certainly has.

Benefits

• The low-cut silhouette adds a clean, streamlined look.
• Originally designed for performance hoops, Nike Air cushioning adds lightweight, all-day comfort.
• The leather and textile overlays on the upper add heritage style, durability and support.
• The padding at the collar feels soft and comfortable.
• The foam midsole is soft and springy.

Doernbecher Freestyle Program

The Doernbecher Freestyle program, a partnership between Nike and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, allows a group of special patients who have triumphed over serious illnesses to design authentic Nike gear. As a national leader in medical research and education, Doernbecher has been helping heal children and families in the Oregon and Washington area since 1926.

Air Force 1 Origins

Debuting in 1982, the AF1 was the first basketball shoe to house Nike Air, revolutionizing the game while rapidly gaining traction around the world. Today, the Air Force 1 stays true to its roots with the same soft and springy cushioning that changed sneaker history.