The line between toy and advertisement has long been blurry. From Howdy Doody to He-Man to Paw Patrol, children’s programming is often a thinly veiled commercial for products. Over the past few decades, fandom has morphed from a community-driven passion into corporate cultivation and exploitation of IP. Now fandom has evolved from selling products to selling a “lifestyle,” something you can see in LEGO’s growing focus on display over play.
There are few brands that understand how to sell a lifestyle as well as Nike, which makes LEGO’s partnership with the athletic company a perfect match for this moment. With one product on their shelf, a young person can express both their creative spirit and their drive for athletic performance. It’s a no-compromise explosion of excellence for ages 10+.
Click to read our full thoughts on the new NIKE set reveals