Fashion

Change-maker Taslima Khan unveils her sneaker collaboration with Nike

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Earlier this year, Nike launched the NIKE BY YOU Initiative, which saw the fashion giant enlist the creativity of 20 guest designers to each design and create limited edition versions of some of Nike’s most iconic trainers.

Among the designers selected was 31-year-old, British-Bangladeshi designer Taslima Khan, who won a place within the talented line-up to design her own unique Nike sneakers.

Taslima is much more than a fashion designer, she is a stylist, activist and Prince’s Trust Ambassador. She has worked with some of the UK’s biggest artists such as Deno, AJ Tracey and Chip, as a stylist for their music videos. In addition, Khan’ stylist work has also been featured in major print platforms such as GQ and Hello Magazine.

Her activism is one the many aspects of her brand that is represented in her custom designed Nike trainers.

Taslima chose the Nike Air Max 95, one of Nike’s most popular shoes of all-time, to give a fresh spin on for the campaign. Her sneakers, which she named “CHANGE MAKEAIR”, represent her unrelenting fight for change, as Taslima and her friends have always used their art and creativity as a way of influencing positive change.

She has been involved in a number of different social action campaigns, working with charities, NGO’s and corporations, actively working to fight against injustice, and effect change wherever she can.

Taslima says: “being a changemaker myself and knowing so many friends of mine are too, I wanted to create a beautiful and meaningful design that would look good on everyone and celebrate those who create or support diversity and positive change in our community”.

When crafting her design, she used mood boards and artwork, which was inspired by the rich diversity of living in London, a truly multicultural city. Taslima’s philosophy of never giving up, self believe, ambition, determination and creativity to impact positive change heavily influenced her during this project.

With all of this inspiration, she set out to design a pair of beautiful pair of trainers that embodied the empowering message that there is unity in diversity.

Before being selected to design a custom pair of sneakers with Nike, Taslima has always shown a great passion for enacting social change. She is the founder of her own luxury conscious label, TASLIMA K brand, as well as a highly celebrated, award-winning fashion designer.

Her accolades include: 2020’s Rising Star Award for Entrepreneurship, inclusion in 100 BBPL (British Bangladeshi Power List) in 2018 and ASOS & Clothes Show Live Award- New Designer of the year in 2014.

As well as her work in fashion and art, Taslima is also one of the authors of Kenny Report 3 ‘Personalised Politics’ (gender inequality) and Immigration report for UN. She works on many community-based projects and is an experienced public speaker.

She has also been featured on BBC News, Islam Chanel, Time Out, The Guardian, BBC London Radio to name a few.

Taslima’s campaigning began at the early age of 16 and by the age of 24, she had been chosen to join the Uprising Leadership program. Since then, Khan has been an ambassador for Uprising and created social action campaigns for O2 Think Big and Prince’s Trust OneBC, Unltd, Remembering Srebrenica charity, as well as, worked on a mental health campaign with Fearne Cotton.

As a designer, Taslima continues to use her craft, to not only produce beautiful pieces but to also, influence positive social change, and shine a much needed light on the beauty of diversity in the society.

The “CHANGE MAKEAIR” sneaker perfectly represents inclusivity, something that fits easily into our ethos here at FROW. These trainers are definitely a must have, not just for the message, but for their stylish design too.

Taslima’s “CHANGE MAKEAIR” sneakers are available to buy from here for £154.95 for a limited time only.

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