{"id":824999,"date":"2025-02-04T09:00:04","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T14:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?p=824999"},"modified":"2025-02-04T10:24:27","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T15:24:27","slug":"aja-wilson-talks-nike-signature-sneaker-design-aone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/kicks\/aja-wilson-talks-nike-signature-sneaker-design-aone\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the Design of A\u2019ja Wilson\u2019s Nike Signature Collection and the Nike A\u2019One"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

She\u2019s collected every single award that\u2019s up for grabs across the basketball landscape. She\u2019s inspired countless women and young girls to be their authentic selves along the way. She\u2019s an author, an Olympian and now, she\u2019s ready to unveil her signature sneaker.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A\u2019ja Wilson has been on an insane ride for the past few years.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May 2024, she announced her inaugural Nike signature collection had been in the works for over a year. The ensuing \u201cOf Course I Have a Shoe Dot Com\u201d campaign completely took over the Aces\u2019 preseason contest against the Puerto Rican National Team from the tunnel to the Jumbotron. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little over a month later, Nike revealed her signature logo. And in December, she announced a six-year extension with the Beaverton brand featuring photos of her on a private jet decked out with the same insignia from the plane\u2019s hull to blankets and tumblers that awaited inside. That brings us to February 2025, the reveal of A\u2019ja\u2019s signature sneaker, the Nike A\u2019One.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While she was winning a WNBA Championship, the regular season MVP, the Defensive Player of the Year award and an Olympic Gold medal, A\u2019ja was simultaneously building out the foundation of her signature line, a foundation centered around her family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Nike Basketball senior footwear designer Ben Nethongkome and team met with A\u2019ja for the first time, they learned of her family\u2019s deep connection with pearls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At around 10 or 11 years old, A\u2019ja\u2019s grandmother gifted her a pearl necklace. As she navigated the highs and lows of finding herself, her voice and who she wanted to be, the pearls were a persistent symbol of strength. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe was, like, You know, these pearls are going to make you beautiful, it don\u2019t matter what you look like, no matter how you’re growing into your height and leveling yourself,<\/em>\u201d A\u2019ja says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wore those pearls forever. I dressed it up, I dressed it down because it gave me that sense of confidence. So, when it came to pearls, I just instantly thought of confidence and being your true self. And that’s something that I carry on, not just the tangible pearls, but little pearls of mental aspects to my game or to life that I hold are those pearls. And so we kind of wanted to implement that, especially when it came to my shoes so I can then share my pearls with the world.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At its core, the Nike A\u2019One revolves around the two-time WNBA Champion\u2019s connection to pearls, and the design team began their research with how the gem was created in the wild. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To understand where pearls come from, here\u2019s a quick lesson from the field of malacology, the science of mollusks. (Stay with us\u2026) The process starts when a grain of sand gets caught inside a mollusk, which coats the irritation with layers and layers of crystalized calcium carbonate. Over the years, one layer forms after the other into a hardened sphere of beauty. Nike\u2019s team of designers instantly pulled on that thread, inspired by the potential applications of the stacked appearance that\u2019s found at the cross-section of a pearl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stamped with a raised satin-finish Swoosh, the “Pink A’ura” colorway sees a pink gradient take over the upper\u2019s breathable mesh panels, spreading from soft pink at the center to a collection of more saturated shades that outline the silhouette at the outsole, heel, tongue and inner lining. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom an expression standpoint, her energy is so infectious. She walks in the room, you feel it. And we wanted to bring that vibrancy into the product. So the echoing of color from being very vibrant to neutral was something that we wanted to capture onto the product as well that really speaks to her style,\u201d Nethongkome says.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pearl motif extends to the structural integrity of A\u2019ja\u2019s signature silhouette, too. Underfoot, the low-cut model sits atop a bed of Cushlon ST2 foam that peaks through the lateral midsole with a pearlescent finish. That\u2019s all surrounded by a firmer support carrier and a bright white TPU frame that acts like a clam shell protecting the treasure inside. And the monochromatic pink layers boast varying levels of support, with a firmer feel near the base and more wiggle room where you need it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Through numerous design meetings and wear testing sessions, A\u2019ja\u2019s journey gave the design team a neverending assortment of inspirations and potential storytelling opportunities. Eventually, they stumbled upon a hidden IG handle that A\u2019ja had left dormant: @motherofpearl. And suddenly, the inspiration for the outsole was born. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe idea of the mother of pearl [is] it harnesses the pearl. It\u2019s a shell, the clamshell around it, and there’s these really cool lines that reverberate out,\u201d Nethongkome says. \u201cAnd so the grip does have that idea of the Swoosh being the prominent detail, and then this grip element reverberates out from the Swoosh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In keeping with A\u2019ja\u2019s request to keep the silhouette as light as possible, each traction element across the outsole is decoupled, allowing for a higher deflection rate and quicker cuts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe [Ben] really kind of brought my vision to life. And I think that was from the first day, when I’m entering into a room when I’m a visual learner, so I’m surrounded by colors and pearls and choices, and Ben’s like, Alright, here’s the keys, <\/em>like, Do your thing.<\/em> And I’m just like, Oh my gosh<\/em>. So it was a big, big moment,\u201d A\u2019ja says. \u201cAnd I think when you get to finally see the shoe and the hard work that was put behind it and in it, it just brings all those feels and emotions back of just pure happiness and joy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visual storytelling of the A\u2019One is as concrete as its muse\u2019s r\u00e9sum\u00e9 of accolades. Yet A\u2019ja admits that she was surprised at how often the design team would defer to her opinions. \u201cThey\u2019re actually looking at me like, What do you want to sell?<\/em> You have the pen to your notebook. What do you want to do?<\/em>\u201d A\u2019ja says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere were moments in meetings where she was, like, What do you guys think? <\/em>And then we\u2019re looking around like, No, you\u2019re the tastemaker in this room.<\/em> And she\u2019s like, Well, I love it, I don\u2019t care if you guys like it or not, but I love it. <\/em>And that\u2019s what we needed to hear. We need that confidence. She puts the seals and authenticated [that] the shoe was great,\u201d Nethongkome says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SHOP THE COVER TEE<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

While A\u2019ja balanced her love for the design with how the consumer would eventually react, the newest member of the Nike Basketball signature family entered her very first design meeting with a crystal clear picture of what she<\/em> wanted the A\u2019One to look and feel like. A sleek, low-top silhouette that evoked speed with the necessary amounts of comfort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI constantly, always had in the back of my mind, What would I want as a player? <\/em>But also, What is something that the audience would want?<\/em>\u201d A\u2019ja says. \u201cI feel like I always remembered the buckets of being versatile, whether you want to jump, whether you wanted speed. And I was like, I want all three.<\/em> Like, How can we make it all three?<\/em> Because I didn’t want to just feel like I was excluding one particular thing, because I feel like I don’t exclude anything from my game, in a sense. So when it came to those meetings, I wanted to make sure that we got the best of all worlds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the design team, crafting a sneaker that echoed versatility, speed and cushioning posed more than a few challenges as they shifted between multiple different paradigms. Historically, fast-looking kicks require a low-profile tooling that keeps the wearer close to the ground. Prioritizing comfort reverses the process, lifting you further off the court with additional pockets of air or foam. A\u2019ja challenged the team to capture both at once. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thinking about the silhouette didn\u2019t stop when the meetings ended. After each design session, A\u2019ja received a recap notebook that held all the information, insights, sketches and designs that were covered so she could ruminate over the updates and progress. No. 22 was locked in. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think the biggest thing that I tried to share was storytelling. And I think that\u2019s one thing that makes Nike who they are and what we are. It\u2019s because of the ability to tell stories through clothing, through sport,\u201d A\u2019ja says. \u201cWhen it came to our first meeting and talking about What do we want? <\/em>It was really breaking down to truly, What do you want? What do you want to tell?<\/em> And when it came to storytelling, I wanted it to be a shoe for everyone. I wanted the shoe to be fun, low, sleek but also very comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rounding out the A\u2019One is A\u2019ja\u2019s signature logo, inspired by the star that she draws inside the \u201cA\u201d of her signature. The staple trademark that\u2019s already been spotted on tees and private jets emerges proudly at the tongue while A’ja’s hand-drawn signature appears at the heel, both gleaming with a metallic finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And her stash of iconic quotes paved the way for a litany of details that her true fans will immediately connect with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sentence from a 2021 Player\u2019s Tribune essay is an engraved at the heel: Weakness? Weakness? We don’t have time for that.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The words her grandmother repeated to her as a young girl\u2014As a matter of fact, the best is yet to come\u2014<\/em>arrive along the outsole. Even her Celtic tattoos that pay homage to her parents can be seen on the backside of each tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe wanted people to really feel those words and believe those words, and then hopefully translate that over into their life, or whatever they’re doing in the shoe,\u201d A\u2019ja says. \u201cAnd I think that is why it’s so special to me, because those words, they aren’t just words, they’re stuff that I live by. They’re stuff that I meant when I said, and I hope that people can see that and feel that as well.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This coming May doesn\u2019t just mark the launch of a signature sneaker; A\u2019ja and the Swoosh have been up to much more than that. Whether it’s her signature one-leg sleeve or pulling up to the arena sporting a jersey dress and heels, A\u2019ja\u2019s always kept it authentic with her distinctive style, an aesthetic that the brand looks to capture through the A\u2019One Signature Collection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complete with a hoodie, tee, shorts and an A\u2019Symmetric leg sleeve that A\u2019ja helped make iconic across the game, the collection was tailored to the often overlooked needs of the modern hooper, implementing pieces of A\u2019ja\u2019s life and what she does even further into the collection. \u201cYou really kind of have to think about diving into your closet,\u201d A\u2019ja says. \u201cWhat is something that you wear often? What is something that you love?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gone are the days of taking a pair of scissors to tights. A sateen-lined hood makes a bonnet optional on travel days. Matching pink Nike Calm slides keeps the energy consistent from the bleachers to the hardwood. And a redesigned waistband makes folding down your shorts feel natural instead of bulky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The platform that\u2019s been built leading up to this moment has been carefully curated to the very last detail. Teasers tweeted, announcements made and logos unveiled. Themes, stories and inspirations ring true of pure collaboration. After spending the last two years in the lab, A\u2019ja\u2019s debut signature collection will be released this May in adult and youth sizing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want that shoe, and whoever’s wearing that shoe, to feel like they’re top tier in all that they do, and know that they have a shoe and people behind them that’s going to be with them along the journey, every step of the way. Because that’s how I got to this point. That’s how I’m able to even say that I’m a signature athlete,\u201d A\u2019ja says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn’t get here by myself. And I hope that people understand that in that shoe. When you put this on, you are top tier. You\u2019re empowering. You’re trying to help the next generation or the next person that’s looking up to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SLAM 247 COVER TEES<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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COP THE A’JA WILSON COVER TEE<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Images via Nike.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

She\u2019s collected every single award that\u2019s up for grabs across the basketball landscape. She\u2019s inspired countless women and young girls to be their authentic selves along the way. She\u2019s an author, an Olympian and now, she\u2019s ready to unveil her signature sneaker.\u00a0 A\u2019ja Wilson has been on an insane ride for the past few years.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":448,"featured_media":825017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[11149,62525,63148,1863],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-824999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kicks","tag-aja-wilson","tag-feature-1","tag-slam-kicks","tag-wnba"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/448"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=824999"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824999\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":825028,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824999\/revisions\/825028"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/825017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=824999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=824999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=824999"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=824999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}