Reebok doesn't make nationalistic footwear, company says after reports of Israeli Independence shoe

Reebok said it had no intention of designing an Israel Independence Day shoe and blammed the confusion on a simple matter of miscommunication.

By DANIEL J. ROTH, HANNAH BROAD
Updated: MAY 11, 2016 01:29
Reebok's special edition shoe in honor of Israel's 68th Independence Day celebrations (photo credit: REEBOK ISRAEL)
Reebok's special edition shoe in honor of Israel's 68th Independence Day celebrations
(photo credit: REEBOK ISRAEL)
International sportswear company Reebok announced Tuesday it will not be releasing a shoe in commemoration of Israel’s 68th Independence Day celebration, following a clarification from the brand’s distributor in Israel.
On Monday, Reebok Israel announced that a special edition sneaker in blue and white, engraved with “Israel 68” on the side of its heel, would be designed as a collector’s item for a onetime release in Israel and throughout the world.
But the following day, Reebok Israel retracted its earlier announcement, saying the company had no intention of manufacturing the item and blamed the confusion on the local distributor’s miscommunication with an independent designer’s proposed concept.
“The shoe was prepared by an independent designer and should not be presented as a product by the company’s international brand,” Reebok Israel said in a statement.
The company added that a local designer had customized a personal layout using the company’s website, which allows users to make their own designs. The local designer then drafted a statement, along with “the model of the shoe” and sent it to the local Reebok distributor.
A representative said Reebok does not allow its sportswear to be politicized and refrains from distributing shoes tied to national emblems or countries.
Reebok International issued the following statement: “Reebok would like to distance itself from the shoe. The shoe was a one-off initiative from one of our partners. We do not support this initiative.
Our partner has withdrawn its plans to auction off this shoe.
Reebok believes in the unifying power of sport. Our main focus and priority is to inspire people everywhere to be their absolute best – physically, mentally and socially.”