In Cleveland, Joey Morona notes Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving and F LeBron James "are adding special Black History Month sneakers to their Nike signature shoe lines this month." All of the products in the collection, which "includes shoes and clothing" from Nike's Jordan, Lakers G Kobe Bryant and Thunder F Kevin Durant lines, "share a 'vivid Pan African-inspired color palette.'" The Kyrie 2 shoe "is black with a bold, eye-popping strap done in an African-inspired pattern." The sneaker also "features a vibrant multicolor outsole." The tribal pattern in the LeBron 13 "is more abstract but no less striking on a shoe dominated by black posits, white midsole and translucent outsole" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 2/3).
APOCALYPSE NOW: Brooks Running has unveiled a new global brand campaign entitled "Live the way you run. Run happy." The campaign, via Leo Burnett, Chicago, will kick off with Brooks' first-ever TV commercial titled “The Rundead,” premiering on Feb. 13 during the Olympic Marathon Trials on NBC. The spot features zombies roaming across a post-apocalyptic town. As they encounter Brooks shoes, they become more alive. Print ads will appear in publications such as Runner’s World, Shape Magazine and Competitor Magazine. Digital ads are slated to appear on media outlets including MensFitness.com, Shape.com, Hulu and Pandora, among others (Brooks Running).
FASHION SHOW: In Denver, Monica Mendoza reported Pittsburgh-based Little Earth Productions has seen a 15% "bump in sales of women’s sports accessories, including ponchos, scarves, handbags and headbands" in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl. Little Earth co-Owner & CEO Rob Brandegee said that "among the top sellers" for Broncos fans "is its infinity scarf." Mendoza noted Broncos and Panthers fashion items "already were hot sellers before they landed in the Super Bowl" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/2).
NEW CAT IN TOWN: The Miami Herald's George Richards reported that the NHL Panthers "have new sponsorship patches" on their practice jerseys. JetBlue "is out" and Miami Baptist Health "is in" (TWITTER.com, 2/2).
