Li-NingistheChineseleaderinathleticapparelandfootwear,rootedinthevisionofitsfounderandnamesake,thechampiongymnast,Mr.LiNing.Hefoundedthecompanyin1990withthesimplegoalofprovidingChineseathletesanationalbrandtowearontheworldstageoftheOlympics—historicallyoneoftheWest’srareportalsintoauthenticChineseculture.Thismodestintentionhas,30yearslater,ledtotheriseofaglobalsportpioneer.Residingattheforefrontof21st-centurydesignandtechnologywhilecelebratingitsown,storiedheritage,Li-Ningexploresthetensionbetweenpastandfuture,manandnature,exibilityandstrength.Yetitisultimatelydrivenbytheboundlesspotentialofthehumanbody.
Asaworldclassgymnastwith106goldmedalshimself,Mr.Liistestamenttothis.HismostsingularachievementsincludewinningsixoutofsevengoldmedalsattheSixthWorldCupGymnasticCompetitionin1982,earninghimthenickname,“ThePrinceofGymnastics.”In1984,Mr.Liwonthreegoldmedals,twosilverandonebronzetobecomethemosthonoredathleteatthe1984SummerOlympicGames,heldinLosAngeles.In1999,theWorldSportsCorrespondentAssociationnamedhimamongthe“World’sMostExcellentAthletes”ofthe20thCentury.Morerecently,Mr.Lilitthetorchatthe2008SummerOlympicGames,heldinBeijing.
InnovationinformstheheartoftheLi-Ningbrandanditsproducts.Thisuniquecombinationhasledtotheimprint’sdominanceacrossitscoresportproductcategories:basketball,running,badminton,andtraining.Withbasketballinparticular,Li-Ning’simpactistrulyglobalinreach,notedforitssponsorshipofandclosecollaborationwithNBAsuperstars,DwyaneWade,JimmyButler,FredVanVleet,CJMcCollumandD’AngeloRussell.
Bydrivingperpetualresearchanddevelopment,
Li-Ningisabletooerthemostforward-thinkingproducts,
experiences,partnershipsandservices,whileusing
cut-throughtechnologiesandmaterials.
HavingparticipatedinmultipleParisFashionWeeksalready,itisLi-Ning’sintentiontocontinueshowcasingthebrand’spremiumcollectionthereintheyearstocome.Furtheringitscommitmenttothecity,inJanuary2020,Li-Ningannounceditsalignmentwiththeesteemedmuseumandculturalhub,TheCentrePompidou,introducingarobust,multi-faceted3-yearpatronagepartnership.
Intersectingfashion,sport,artandculture,thepatronagewillseeLi-NingsupportingmanyofTheCentrePompidou’sexciting,multidisciplinaryprograms,whilealsoutilizingtheepicvenue’ssprawling,galleryspacestohostandexecuterunwaypresentationswhenapplicable.
Thepartnershiplaunchedwiththestagingofthebrand’sAutumn/Winter2020runwayshow—kickingoLi-Ning’s30thAnniversaryyear—followedbythesponsorshipoftwoofTheCentrePompidou’smostanticipatedexhibitions:“Matisse,LikeANovel”and,appropriately,MOVE,anannualseriesfocusingonliveperformance,choreography,danceandmovement.
Thisexcitingrelationshipextendsinto2021withthisyear’seditionoftheMOVEfestivalaswellasTheCentrePompidou’sopeningof“WomeninAbstraction”,anexhibitioncelebratingandhighlightingthecontributionsofoveronehundredfemaleartistsintherealmofabstractart.Dynamicinscope,thispioneeringnewshowhonorswomeninthearts,featuringworksculledfromacrosstheglobedatingasfarbackasthelate19thcenturythroughtothe1980s.