June officially marks the start of Pride Month, and all the major athletic brands are releasing limited edition Pride Collections to show their support of the LGBTQIA+ community. See our featured picks below, to ensure you are getting that head-turning effect wherever you march this season!  Kick up that comfort with a new pair of kicks that reflect your support of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Nike

Credit: Sneaker Bar Detroit

With pride coming up, this season Nike is releasing an entire collection that celebrates that multidimensionality of the LGBTQIA+ representation. The Nike BeTrue Collection includes the Nike Air Force 1, the Nike Air Max 2090, and the Nike Air Deschutz, which all feature beautiful interpretations of reflecting the LGBTQIA+ community. The Air Force 1 (pictured) is the iconic sticker, and will feature a heel that has a 10-color spectrum, inspired by the More Color, More Pride flag. The colors not only include the LGBTQIA+ community, but also people of color, with Nike’s decision to include black and brown stripes.  The Air Max 2090 and Air Deschutz sandals will feature a colorful interpretation of the two models, including hues of red, orange, yellow, green, purple, and pink. The Nike designs are clean while paying apt tribute to their inspiration and cause. The silhouettes remain classic, but the BeTrue logo is reflected on each pair. 

Moreover, Nike contributes to a myriad of donations to more than 20 LGBTQIA+ community organizations and the company is a strong ally to the community, particularly when it comes to advocacy in sports.  Notably, the Nike Community Impact Fund supports two organizations in their backyard of Portland, Oregon. Through the COVID-19 epidemic, they are supporting PRISM Health Clinic, an LGBTQ-focused clinic that is an instrumental part of the Cascade AIDS Project; they are also supporting Outside In, an organization that provides essential support for homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Nike hopes to further create safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as elevate the community’s place in history through grants from the Charities Aid Foundation of America. 

The BeTrue Pride Collection is expected to be released June 19th, 2020.

Adidas

Credit: Adidas

Credit: Adidas

Credit: Adidas

Adidas is dropping quite an extensive line for Pride this season, including 8 pairs – and very possibly more to come – that are now available for purchase. Essentially, Adidas is giving its classic styles a colorful treatment. In the Ultraboost (pictured), Adidas’ iconic black trefoil will boast the colored stripes to reflect the colors of the Pride community. The theme also remains fairly consistent with Adidas’ minimalist fashion: the sneakers are white-based with accents of the seven colors of Gilbert Baker’s LGBT flag. The Pride Superstar is an iconic sneaker, with an added oversized trefoil in a colorful mosaic; the Nite Jogger overlays many colors in a beautiful geometric design; the Stan Smith features quirky mismatched stripes with a panel representing each color. Adidas stays true to their retro ‘80s design while paying artistic tribute to the Pride community. 

Adidas, while not specifically donating sales to the Pride community, is supporting Athlete Ally and Stonewall FC. Athlete Ally is an organization that champions LGBTQ inclusion in sports, and Stonewall FC is a non-league football team in the Middlesex County Football League Premier Division, which is made up of members of the LGBTQI+ community and is the oldest club of its kind to promote a save space for gay football players. Adidas states: “Pride is more than a day. Pride is our love, and love unites all.” 

Converse

Credit: Converse

Converse comes out this season BOLD and they are not afraid to be proud of it: More Color, More Pride is their motto. For their fifth anniversary of their Pride Collection, the brand has decided to go Chuck crazy. This collection includes a large variety of rainbow-colored Chucks to choose from, from the Chuck 70 to the Chuck Taylor All-Star. You will have all the options from high and low tops as well as adult and children’s sizes. Though canvas makes up most of the sneaker options, you will have the option to add sequins. 

Converse has proven to support a myriad of LGBQT organizations. In the past years, Converse has donated more than $1 million to local as well as global LGBTQIA+ organizations, and this year for their 2020 Pride Collection, they have named four major organizations that are working to empower and support the community: It Gets Better Project, Ali Forney Center, BAGLY, and OUT MetroWest.  The Converse Pride Collection is available to shop now. 

New Balance

Credit: New Balance

Credit: New Balance

New Balance’s 2020 Pride Collection is available now and beautiful! The New Balance FuelCell Echo and the 327 model will be available as part of the Pride pack, and features vibrant rainbow colors of the LGBTQ flag. They remain true to their ‘70s inspired uppers but have a detailed flag label at the tongue and its simple New Balance branding. The shoes are on a white base, with a colorful take to the classic. However, both models have a translucent NB logo with a holographic heel panel — an electric effect for Pride! The translucent textile will make it an absolute head turner and fashion statement, celebrating the multidimensionality of Pride. The women’s version features a teal piping and a spunky heart, while the men’s version features a navy piping.  New Balance also improved the response FuelCell midsole cushioning to offer an even superior support for wherever your feet go! 

Vans

Credit: Vans

Credit: Vans

Vans comes strong with a deconstructed version of their classic sk8 shoes. This timeless company has released a collection of bright and old school whites, remaining on trend and classic. The classic checkerboard design that Vans is famous for is now being replaced with rainbow-infused design. Classic white Sk8 hi tapered tops are a bit more subtle, with rainbow accents on a bright, white classic. The tapered tops give it more flexibility and comfort than traditional high tops. Their stacked slip-ons are coming in glitter! Made with black canvas, platform bumpers, translucent foxing tape, as well as in-your-face outsoles, this is not a subtle look, but will rather turn heads. It’s also worth noting the holofoil sneakers, taken from the silhouettes of the late ‘90s, made of canvas and foil leather for that understated sparkle. Vans has gone above and beyond with their design and creation. 

For Pride 2020, Vans is also donating $50,000 to the GSA Network, a next-generation LGBTQ+ organization that unites trans and queer youth to fight for racial and gender justice.