Six Years After Nike’s Disrespecting Decision, Allyson Felix Celebrates a Huge Milestone With Her Own Shoe Brand

American titan of the track, Allyson Felix, is in gleeful celebration of two year anniversary of her very own personal brand of footwear and apparel, Saysh. Funded by her successful qualification for Tokyo Olympics 2021, Felix had a mission to extend her vision to her female audience, breaking the bounds of gender discrimination inflicted by her former sponsor, Nike.

Saysh, born out of her determination to challenge gender discrimination, has become a beacon of empowerment with its inaugural product, the Saysh One sneaker. The product draws its inspiration from the elegance of wrap dress, and in turn, has become a mark of diversification for women around the globe.

Saysh turns two: A space for women’s empowerment

Allyson Felix joyfully announced Saysh’s second anniversary in a recent Instagram post, reflecting on the purpose of the brand and the need it aims to fulfill that goes beyond footwear. “We recognized a deeper need in the world—to truly acknowledge and embrace women for who they are, exactly as they are,“ she captioned. Alongside her co-founder Wesley Felix, Saysh was created as a space for women to feel seen, understood and appreciated. The brand has accomplished so much in such a short span of time, further demonstrating that it is possible for dreams and aspirations to be achievable. 

At Saysh, not only do they provide stylish and functional products, but also encourage a strong and united community of women, where profound conversations take place and shaped without limitations. Their mission is to create a platform that recognizes the identities of women that go beyond the societal bounds of the traditional.

The seeds of Allyson Felix’s decision to create her own brand were sown during a contentious period with her former sponsor, Nike. The controversy erupted when Felix, who was pregnant with her daughter Camryn in 2018, revealed that Nike had proposed paying her a staggering 70% less following motherhood. Moreover, she felt that Nike did not adequately support her maternity journey in a manner she could be proud of.

Allyson Felix Defies Nike

Allyson Felix was left feeling bitterly disappointed when, after Nike had asked her to be the face of their female-empowerment advertisement, they proceeded to contest her maternity rights in private. As Allyson described it, Nike’s approach was “beyond disrespectful and tone-deaf.“

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This caused her to sever ties with the company and find a new partnership with Athleta, a women’s-led apparel makers which better supported her values and dedication to supporting female athletes. To further champion female equality in the sports industry, she created her own brand – ‘Saysh’ – in order to tackle the ongoing gender divides inside the athletic world.

As Saysh reaches its milestone second anniversary, Allyson Felix stands side-by-side with her team and community to celebrate the brand’s progress. Allyson’s personal voyage is proof of how conversations can invoke positive growth, leading to Nike’s revised policies surrounding pregnant athletes. Though Saysh keeps evolving, Allyson’s unwavering faith in a future where women hold the upper hand is ever-present, echoing across the world of sports.

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