Howard University’s Jordan Brand partnership brings exclusive trainers from player exclusives to retail releases.

The University’s collaboration with Jordan Brand has brought a one-of-a-kind sneaker collection to the HBCU, combining HBCU pride with one of the most iconic names in sneaker culture. Howard was Jordan Brand’s first HBCU partner when it signed a 20-year deal in 2022, receiving exclusive footwear across basketball and football and two retail Air Jordan 1 Low releases.

The partnership was a significant move for Howard, known as the Bison. The deal has established a long-term relationship between the school and Jordan Brand, giving the school access to exclusive trainers made for its athletic programs. Some of those releases have included player-only pairs, made for athletes and not readily accessible to the public.

One sneaker tied to the partnership is a player-exclusive version of the Air Jordan 6. It’s part of a larger collection of Howard-themed footwear that has helped imprint the University’s identity on Jordan Brand’s sneaker offerings.

The Bison’s exclusive footwear has expanded into basketball and football, bringing the partnership into more than one athletic program. The range is a key part of the collaboration, as it recognizes the University’s involvement in different sports while maintaining a common thread with Jordan Brand.

The collaboration has also reached consumers through two retail Air Jordan 1 Lows. These won’t be player-only trainers like usual, but retail pairs anyone can buy, meaning fans who aren’t among Howard’s athletes can still take part in the collaboration.

The mix of limited-edition team shoes and public drops creates multiple opportunities for the partnership to make an impact. The player-only designs are deeply connected to the University’s athletic programs. The retail sneakers give sneaker enthusiasts and Howard fans a chance to own a piece of the joint effort.

Notable Howard-related trainers include the Air Jordan 6 PE and the newer Air Jordan 1 Low, according to the information provided. This is not a comprehensive list of every release, nor does it contain detailed design descriptions or the specific order in which the shoes should be ranked. To rank them definitively by design, rarity, or fan response, you would need specifics.

But given how the partnership is structured, Howard’s relationship with Jordan Brand is more than one sneaker release. The deal, signed in 2022, is a 20-year agreement that has begun a long-term partnership covering footwear across multiple sports and retail releases for the general public.

The collaboration places the University in the larger sneaker world of Jordan Brand while also showcasing its identity as an HBCU, Howard said. For fans, the releases include a mix of player exclusives tied to the schools and retail-available trainers.

The partnership has been a steady stream of Howard-inspired footwear, and the Air Jordan 6 PE and Air Jordan 1 Low drops are the best examples of what the collaboration has done to date.

Kevin Durant’s long-running tribute to his late aunt is back, and it looks new. Nike unveiled the KD 19 ‘Aunt Pearl’,’ featuring a marbled pink design that gives the basketball shoe a unique look while continuing a tradition synonymous with Durant’s signature line.

The sneaker is dropping November 13 for $170. It will be available in men’s sizing through Nike SNKRS and select retailers under style code IO8111-600.

The KD 19 “Aunt Pearl” takes a softer approach to the colorway. Its pink upper is covered in a marbled granite-inspired pattern, like polished stone. The textured look adds depth, setting it apart from a typical solid-colored trainer.

The details extend to the branding and sole. Slightly darker pink Swooshes pop against the marbled upper, providing contrast without deviating from the overall color scheme. The tongue features Silver KD branding, and the pale pink outsole rounds out the look.

Beyond the look, the launch has personal significance for Durant. The “Aunt Pearl” series is dedicated to his aunt Pearl, who helped raise him and who died of lung cancer in 2000. The tribute has become a staple of his signature sneaker line, connecting each new design to a significant part of his personal history.

Since the KD 4 debuted in 2012, Durant has released an “Aunt Pearl” colorway almost every year. That tradition has made the series a notable part of the KD collection, with each iteration reminding fans of the woman being honored.

Pink also fits the tribute’s overall theme. The colorway matters for more than aesthetics, as pink is linked to cancer awareness. It is a new design in Durant’s sneaker line, but it also continues to acknowledge his aunt’s impact on his life.

The KD 19 version continues that approach, pairing a soft color palette with a pronounced surface pattern. The design uses little color contrast, instead relying on different shades of pink and silver branding to add visual interest.

The annual ‘Aunt Pearl’ has become a staple of the KD line, and the newest model continues a tradition that began over a decade ago. The KD 19 iteration keeps the tribute recognizable but offers a different treatment to the upper.

The upcoming launch gives sneakerheads another chance to see how the Durant signature series evolves from model to model. Beyond basketball performance and fashion, the design also tells a story for those who know what the “Aunt Pearl” name represents.

November 13 release date and $170 price set expectations for the sneaker, but shoppers should check Nike’s official channels for final release details.

The KD 19 “Aunt Pearl” features a marbled pink upper, contrasting Swooshes, silver tongue branding, and a pale outsole, and it also pays tribute to a personal moment. It continues an important tradition in Durant’s signature line while offering another visual interpretation of a familiar colorway.