Another LeBron James and Mimi Plange collaboration – Colorways – is in the works and this time, designer Plange for the very first time the will be designing sneakers with Lebron James. Nike is also onboard on the four-part LeBron 18 Low collection that celebrates inclusivity and diversity.
James, ever committed to the development of the African Community uses his platform to preach the narrative. Mimi Plange teaming up with the sports star more than brings a perfect blend. Her designs, inspired by African art, rituals, and architecture will be portrayed in the collaboration. Plange hopes to use the collection to bridge sport into her work. Through her work, she has eyes set on the principle of “The Democratization of Luxury.”
“It’s amazing to shine a light where there hasn’t been enough light: bringing more voices into the design. Having the space to speak a sense of self through design carries a lot of power.”
“I’ve had a lot of experiences with many different groups of people, so I’ve lived through contrasts, like coming from Ghana and growing up in California, like not having a lot of money growing up and yet participating in honors classes, which included a specific kind of student,” Plange reminisces. “I think those experiences, along with the ability to travel as an adult, were big reasons why I design the way I do, because you’re able to see that the world is a lot smaller than you think, and that people are not as segmented or opposite in thought as you might think they are.”
Her customers have included Rihanna, Serena Williams and first Lady Michelle Obama. Michelle wore her A-line skirt on the ABC TV show The View. Plange was the Designer of the Year at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week South Africa.
The Mimi Plange x Nike LeBron 18 Low “Higher Learning” will be available starting June 2nd via mimiplange.com, Nike SNKRS, and select retailers. More colorways will be offered throughout the Holiday Season.
Mimi Plange, born in Accra, Ghana moved to America as a child where she received a BA in Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley and attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in California. After her education she moved to New York and worked for both Patricia Fields and Rachel Roy.
Mimi Plange launched her own ready-to-wear label in 2010, after a decade working in the New York fashion industry.
She has received acclaim for her exceptional work in the fashion industry, winning such accolades as International Emerging
Designer of the Year in 2011 at the Mercedes-Benz Africa Fashion Week held in
South Africa. The year after, she was named Designer of the Year.
She was also won Mayor Bloomberg’s Design .
