Nike scraps roll out of new shoe line after Japanese designer backs Hong Kong protests: Report
Nike Inc. reportedly scrapped plans to unveil a new line of shoes with a top Japanese brand after the designer expressed support for the Hong Kong protests against a measure to allow China to extradite residents for trial.
The Seattle-based company teamed up with Undercover and designer Jun Takahashi to release a new, limited-edition sneaker exclusively in China on June 14.
That rollout was delayed after Takahashi posted a photo on Undercover’s Instagram of the Hong Kong protests, captioning it “no extradition to China,” according to the Financial Times.
A Nike spokesperson confirmed the report, and the posting on Undercover’s account has since been deleted.
"Based on feedback from Chinese consumers, we have withdrawn from China a small number of products that were designed by a collaborator," the spokesperson told FOX Business in a statement.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NKE | NIKE INC. | 79.09 | +0.72 | +0.92% |
One Chinese retailer received a notice that the June 14 launch would not occur, the Financial Times reported, while another vendor said it was removing all Undercover products from its inventory for “special reasons.”
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The Hong Kong government suspended consideration of the extradition measure after millions of residents flooded the city’s streets to protest against the bill, which critics say would expose citizens to a less transparent legal system in mainland China.