Expect the 21st Doernbecher Freestyle Collection This January

For 21 years, Freestyle has turned hospital gowns into hero capes, handing the design pen to young patients from OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. The 2025 collection is no exception – six silhouettes, each carrying the pulse of a kid who’s battled far more than a full-court press.

This year’s lineup spans everything from retro hoops to modern runners, with the Retro, , , , V2K Run and all reimagined through fearless young eyes. These aren’t just colourways – they’re confessions, dream sequences and defiant rally cries. Flames, lightning, favourite foods, secret symbols, even tributes to lost loved ones – every pair carries a fingerprint you can’t fake.

Behind each shoe is a nine-month journey with Nike designers during which the kids became creative directors, choosing materials, sketching graphics and approving final cuts. For many, it’s a rare chance to tell their story on their own terms, not as patients, but as artists.

The Doernbecher Freestyle XXI collection will launch via auction in Portland before hitting SNKRS and select retailers later this year. It features the designs of Khovny Vignery, Molly Bell, Oli Fasone-Lancaster, Raegan Scheid, Sergio Cano Marquez, and Zach Rumbaugh.

What Is Nike Doernbecher Freestyle?

Nike’s Doernbecher Freestyle program began in 2004 as a creative partnership with OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland. Each year, a select group of young patients are invited to design their own Nike sneakers from the ground up – choosing the model, colours, graphics and hidden messages that reflect their personalities and journeys.

Unlike typical collaborations, these shoes aren’t about celebrity status or street hype. They’re about giving kids a creative voice during the most challenging chapters of their lives. Their designs often include personal symbols – from medical milestones to favourite meals, mottos and family tributes – turning each sneaker into a wearable diary.

Proceeds from every release go directly back to the hospital, funding vital care, research and support services. Over nearly two decades, the Doernbecher Freestyle program has raised tens of millions and produced some of the most heartfelt, story-driven sneakers in Nike’s history.

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