#Pensole

[ausetkmt]

Chances are, you have Jan Ernst Matzeliger to thank, at least partially, for the shoes on your feet.

Matzeliger, an immigrant from what is now the country of Suriname, in South America, revolutionized the business of shoe manufacturing with a patent he earned in 1883 at the age of 30 – an innovation that underlies the methods shoe companies use today.

At one time, the upper part of a shoe was typically stitched to the sole by hand. A cobbler could churn out perhaps 50 shoes a day through the stretching and stitching process known as “lasting.” The lasting machine that Matzeliger invented allowed a shoemaker to complete more than 10 times as many shoes a day, according to the Smithsonian Institution and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Shoes became more affordable. 

“He was truly an entrepreneur, doing what he did in the late 1800s, facing such discrimination and racism at the time,” says D’Wayne Edwards, a former Nike executive who has designed footwear for such athletes as Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter and Carmelo Anthony and who is founder and president of Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design in Detroit. Pensole is a successor school to Lewis College of Business, a historically Black institution that closed in 2015. 

“For him to have the vision and foresight to want to improve an industry and do something bigger than himself was truly amazing,” Edwards says. “He has been a pioneer for this industry that has been overlooked.” 

Matzeliger was born in 1852 in Dutch Guiana, now Suriname, to an enslaved mother and the slaveholder in whose house she worked. He moved to Massachusetts in the 1870s. 

After learning that a Black man was behind a key industry invention, Edwards wanted to honor Matzeliger in a way that would keep his legacy front and center. The solution: incorporate Matzeliger’s name into a shoe brand.

“JEMS by Pensole” — the acronym standing for Jan Ernst Matzeliger Studios — will open its factory in March, marking 140 years since Matzeliger received his patent. Edwards says the company expects to launch its first shoe in September. Shoe designs will be the result of collaboration between Edwards and Pensole students. 

The name “JEMS” has additional layers of meaning, Edwards says.  It represents gyms — where athletic footwear is often worn — and gems, which is what Edwards calls the primarily Black and brown students at Pensole who are being mentored. 

“We really do feel that the people we’re going to serve and honor in this factory are truly the hidden gems of our industry who have been overlooked, and/or have not ever had an opportunity,'' Edwards says.

The new venture is backed by an initial $2 million investment from Designer Brands Inc., parent of shoe retailer DSW . JEMS by Pensole shoes will be sold exclusively in DSW retail stores nationwide.

“The reason we’re partnering with Pensole is to get the next generation of designers, and very specifically, African American designers, in the footwear industry, and using DSW as a tool,” says William Jordan, Designer Brands Chief Growth Officer. “Less than 3%of designers in the footwear industry today are African American. We need to change that.”

#Black History Heroes: How inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger made modern footwear accessible #Jan Matzelinger #shoes #auto lasting machine #commercial shoe production #Pensole

[kicksaddictny]

Pensole Lewis Collaborates with Reebok, Stakewell, Detroit Pistons, and Microsoft for the 2nd Annual 'Art on Sneaker' Invitational

Detroit, MI - In an exciting collaboration between Pensole Lewis Detroit, the Detroit Pistons, Stackwell, Reebok, and Microsoft, the stage is set for the 2nd annual MARTK'D "Art on Sneaker" Invitational. This unique initiative aims to showcase the creativity of 40 talented high school artists from Detroit, offering them a platform to design sneakers in a real-time challenge.

On March 9th, from 12 PM to 4 PM, the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center will host the invitational event. Here, the young artists will have just 45 minutes to transform a white sneaker into a masterpiece. A panel of esteemed judges from Reebok, the Detroit Pistons, PLC Detroit, Microsoft, and Stackwell will evaluate the designs and select the standout creations.

Ten finalists will then advance to a one-day Art and Color Design workshop at Pensole Lewis Detroit, the city's sole design-focused HBCU. Following this workshop, three artists will be chosen to have their designs produced by Reebok, offering them a rare opportunity to see their creations come to life on a global scale.

"This event goes beyond art and sneakers; it's about opening doors to new career paths that many may not have considered," remarked Dion Walcott, PLC Detroit's Director of Partnerships and Founder of MARTK'D. "Our partnership with PLC, the Pistons, Reebok, Microsoft, and Stackwell underscores the power of collaboration between major brands and corporations to engage and uplift creative communities."

Mark your calendars for the virtual art and storytelling workshop on March 16th and the student final presentations and winners' selection on March 23rd, both taking place at PLC Detroit from 12 PM to 4 PM.

For a glimpse into the excitement and talent of last year's event, check out the winners' reactions [hyperlink to previous year's winner reactions].

Don't miss this opportunity to witness the future of design unfold as Detroit's young artists leave their mark on the sneaker industry.

#pensole #detroit #kicksaddict #event #Vimeo

[goodthingswithjah]

Kenneth Annand, Sydney James, Scoop Jackson, Jeffrey Henderson and Jason Mayden discuss entrepreneurship.

#blackfootwearforum #Pensole #detroit

[i-am-me-sometimes]

mob we need to slay

#i feel like his face looks better in the first image #with the blurry ass pensol #idk what u think? #reigen arakata #my art #art wip #mob psycho 100 #mp100

[deewellsosd]

Colors are very important to me.

I was always drawn to bright colors like neon, orange, yellow, and red.

It’s tied directly to being born and raised in the #USVirginIslands and seeing lots of colors throughout the Caribbean.

Clothes in the ‘80s were pushing lots of colors and neon colors were big from brands like #OceanPacific, VUARNET, Benetton Group, Esprit, and #CrossColours.

I loved it!

Then, there was a massive shift to more earth tones in the mid-90s, and it had a lot to do with movies and music videos that explored culturally-based themes. (Think: Janet Jackson’s “That’s The Way Love Goes” music video.)

When you think of the ‘90s, what colors come to mind for you?

#kickstory #osdlive #ogsneakertalk #sneakers #pensole lewis college #hbcu #color and materials #fashion #walker wear #cross colours #music #hip hop

[doculicious]

#dr violet t lewis #michigan #detroit #usa #hbcu #wilberforce university #pensole lewis college #lewis college of business #great depression

[dippedanddripped]

FREE GAME: Live at Black Footwear Forum

What is April Walker talking about that the fashion industry is all white?

I don’t agree with James on everything he is saying

#youtube #Black Footwear Forum #pensole lewis academy #pensole academy #April walker

[theprophet359]

He’s hoping to create more diversity and inclusion in the shoe business! Dr. D’Wayne Edwards is a veteran shoe designer, getting his start in an entry-level position with LA Gear when he was just 19-years-old, BlackBusiness.com reports. Accumulating more than 50 patents over the course of his 30 years in the business, Edwards has designed more than 500 shoe styles for a host of celebrities including Snoop Dogg, Tupac, Biggie, Michael Jordan and Carmelo Anthony. His designs have been worn in six Olympic games and he is a 3x Mercedes Benz Fashion award winner. He has also received the President’s Volunteer of Service Award from President Barack Obama.  In 2010, Edwards began his career as an educator, eventually converting the only HBCU in Michigan, Lewis College of Business, into the first academy dedicated to footwear design in the nation. He is now the President of Pensole Lewis College (PLC) of Business & Design in Detroit where he works to create diversity and inclusion in the shoe business. In his latest effort, Edwards has now made history, founding the Jan Ernst Matzeliger Studio (JEMS), the first ever Black-owned footwear and shoe factory.  JEMS is named for a Black inventor who revolutionized shoe manufacturing with his 1883 patent for the lasting machine. The factory is located in Somersworth, New Hampshire and will be used as a hub for other budding designers of color to produce their own shoes. The factory w...

[lboogie1906]

Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design is a private HBCU in Detroit. It was the first and only HBCU in Michigan. Founded in 1928 as the Lewis College of Business by Violet T. Lewis, it specialized in business-related topics.

The school originally closed in 2015 after losing its accreditation. The school became the first HBCU to reopen, rebranding as Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design in 2021 through the efforts of D’Wayne Edwards, founder of the Pensole Footwear Design Academy, with an emphasis on design in addition to business. The school is operating in a partnership with the College for Creative Studies while it works to obtain a new accreditation, campus, and legal & legislative approval to reopen.

The school was the founding location of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Eta Phi Beta Sorority, and Tau Gamma Delta Sorority. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #hbcu

[gyanfashion]

Designer Brands Joins Pensole Lewis College of Business ... - PR Newswire

Designer Brand Joins Pensall Lewis College of Business…PR Newswire

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[kicksaddictny]

Detroit HBCU Pensole Lewis College Unveils New Foot Locker Footwear Creation Studio

Pensole Lewis College Detroit (PLC Detroit) has just announced the grand opening of the Foot Locker Footwear Creation Studio, located in a Bedrock-owned building at 200 Walker Street in Detroit. This innovative design studio will provide an unparalleled level of access and opportunity in the design field, offering shoemaking workshops, sample making services, small footwear production capabilities, and more.

The unveiling of the studio will be celebrated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, PLC Detroit President; Elliott Rodgers, Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer at Foot Locker; Garlin Gilchrist, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan; Mike Duggan, Mayor of Detroit; and Dan Gilbert, Chairman and Founder of Rocket Companies and the Gilbert Family Foundation, along with other community members, students, and civic and business leaders.

"We are thrilled to introduce the Foot Locker Footwear Creation Studio at our new Detroit campus," said Edwards. "This space will serve as a source of inspiration for the next generation of footwear creators and design visionaries, equipping them with the resources and education needed to excel in the industry."

PLC Detroit is the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) with a mission to empower progressive creatives to shape a better individual and collective future.

The new Detroit studio boasts over 5,000 square feet of design space with breathtaking views of the Detroit River. This educational environment embodies PLC Detroit's belief that education should foster the idea that anything is possible.

"We are excited to partner with PLC Detroit once again to promote diversity and innovation in design through the opening of the Foot Locker Footwear Creation Studio," said Rodgers. "This space underscores our commitment to investing in and providing opportunities for creatives to thrive in the fashion industry."

Through its career-focused education and industry partnerships, PLC Detroit offers students unparalleled opportunities to hone their skills and pursue successful careers in design.

PLC Detroit was established with the support of the Gilbert Family Foundation, which pledged $10 million over five years to the school as part of its ongoing efforts to provide Detroit residents with pathways to job opportunities in high-demand industries. Leading retailer Target was also a founding partner through its Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) strategy. Since its revival in 2022, PLC Detroit has graduated hundreds of future designers.

"Detroit is a hub of innovation and creativity, and this spirit is alive and well at Pensole as they continue to inspire the next generation of creative thinkers and achievers," said Gilbert. "Dr. Edwards' passion, experience, and dedication to design are unparalleled. His collaborations with innovators like Michael Jordan, Nike, and others help PLC students become the designers of tomorrow. Today's announcement with Foot Locker is another example of the pathways to success that Detroit's HBCU is opening for students in our city."

For more information on PLC Detroit, please visit here.

#detroit #kicksaddict #pensole #hbcu

[goodthingswithjah]

#detroit #black #footwear #forum #blackfootwearforum #Pensole

[wafact]

How Fashion Can Close Its Skills Gap

Last month, 16 students completed a five-week footwear and accessories design “masterclass,” at Pensole Lewis College in Detroit, Mich. The benefits included free tuition, room and board, face-time with executives from several major luxury fashion brands and, quite possibly, a job. “It’s really like a five-week job interview,” said D’Wayne Edwards, founder of Pensole Lewis College and a veteran…

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[deewellsosd]

It’s time for you to create the career that you’ve always dreamed of having!

Registration for the Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design and J.Crew masterclass is open. ✏️

Get the 411 and apply for the PLC x J. CREW Masterclass here.

Also, check out the PLC x J. Crew submission brief here.

So, what are you waiting for? 🤔

#j. crew #kickstory #pensole lewis college #hbcu #visit Detroit #women's fashion #men’s fashion #sneakers #footwear #clothes

[shoesclimate]

Designed by members of Pensole Academy, which has had a hand in projects from other giants in the sneaker space, New Balance‘s ’70s-inspired silhouette features multi-colored blocking. A breathable fabric sets the stage in navy, while light blue suede wraps around the toe. Lateral side “N” logos blend onto their surroundings, and are complemented by embroidered squiggles, as well as a trio of primary colors. Overlays along the tongue and across the heel return to a tonal navy arrangement, which also takes over the midsole. The robust tread, however, opts into an off-white scheme that allows the colors throughout the upper to be that much more pronounced. Together, each component creates a proposition co-signed by the “WHATS POPPIN” artist as part of his affinity for the New England stalwart. #gollohe #new balance (at Kigali, Rwanda) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoXGbiSKo8J/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#gollohe #new

[mltgo]