Taboo highlights heritage in new activewear line
Rapper Taboo has launched a Nike holiday collection inspired by his Indigenous roots.
The Black Eyed Peas star (real name Jaime Luis Gomez) joined the Nike N7 family as an ambassador in 2016, and now he has drawn on his heritage to create a line, which includes hoodies, Tshirts and leggings embossed with Indigenous-themed designs.
“My initial style influence was from my grandmother taking me to see traditional dancing in East L.A,” Taboo, 43, said. “I was influenced by how they put their outfits together. They wore boots; I wore sneakers. So I started with footwear and accessorized my outfit around that. And it grew from there.
“My dance style comes from watching ceremonial dance. That’s who I am. I represent what was started hundreds of years ago.”
The N7 collection supports the N7 Fund and its commitment to help organizations provide sport and physical activity programming to Indigenous communities. Since its inception in 2009, the N7 Fund has awarded US$5.6 million (in grants to 243 communities and organizations, reaching about 420,000 youths).