District 23, Jordan Brand’s latest curated experience, is gearing up to host the Black diaspora amid the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The sportswear brand shared with Travel Noire that the project will showcase the Olympics as an event representing the diaspora. From June 29 through the first week of August, District 23 will “celebrate those who have historically given the Jumpman its credibility as a universal symbol of greatness.”
Programming will include an art and design exhibit featuring 23 works, a display of Nike archives (showing the cultural impact of Air Jordan 1s in Paris), multidisciplinary summer schools for Parisian youth, and several pop-up sport courts.
District 23 creative director Youssouf Fofana has strong ties to streetwear, design, and Jordan Brand. His brand, Maison Château Rouge, has collaborated with the sportswear titan on several sneakers and an apparel line. Moreover, as someone passionate about culturally enriching his community, his United Youth International organization provides creative learning pathways for Parisian youth of color.
Through District 23, the dynamic creative director and Jordan Brand hope to showcase the intersection where culture, fashion, and sports meet.
Where Is District 23 Happening?
District 23 is going down in Paris’ 18th arrondissement. Jordan Brand describes the neighborhood as “a long-standing haven for African American creatives and the Black diaspora.”
Once embraced by Langston Hughes and James Baldwin, the 18th arrondissement is a hub for the global Black community. More presently, the area is home to Little Africa, where many Black and African Parisians reside, work, or frequent. As Travel Noire previously reported, Goutte d’Or, another name for the hidden gem location, translates to “Drop of Gold.”
Fofana opted to headquarter District 23 at the historic former Tati Barbès flagship department store building, which he and United Youth International refurbished into a local cultural center.
What Can Visitors Expect?
District 23’s roots in the 18th arrondissement will be extensive. The “Air Jordan 1 x Paris” exhibit will showcase moments when the brand and the city’s fashion collided. Visitors will see legendary collaborations like “Dior x AJ1s” and “PSG x AJ1s” ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Department of Nike Archives (DNA).
Fofana and Anthony Gallery owner Easy Otabor will showcase 23 contemporary art and design pieces in their Diaspora Renaissance art exhibition inside Tati Barbès. The works will be by artists including Gabriel Moses, Alvin Armstrong, Soldier, and more. Moreover, six of the artworks will be commissioned interpretations of the Air Jordan 1 through a diasporic lens.
Near Tati Barbès, visitors can explore a “Foot Locker x Jordan Brand” retail experience with the latest basketball and streetwear innovations. Hungry visitors in District 23 can visit local restaurants or food collectives highlighted by the partnership.
In collaboration with Casa93, a Jordan Brand Wings partner, Parisian youth can join creative design workshops. The “summer school” initiative pulls inspiration from Fofana’s United Youth International program.
Also, for the youth, Pigalle Duperre, Boris Vian, and Square Leon will have District 23 indoor or outdoor gyms. A press release emphasized the importance of providing local Black Parisian youth uninterrupted access to sport courts during the Olympics. With that in mind, District 23’s courts will host “open play, shoot-arounds, and one-on-one competitions.”
“With Jordan Brand as a longtime collaborator, Fofana captures the youth culture of his Paris, translating both African influence and the multicultural energy of the area into all that he creates through the lens of ‘synthesis,'” detailed the company. “District 23 is the only place of its kind in Paris for the African diaspora and will be a pivotal third space representing togetherness for various Parisian youth.”
