What up, family! Today’s thread is all about the ladies.
In light of International Women’s Day this past week as well as the Melody Ehsani news, I want us to reflect on all of the good that women have brought into this culture.
Tell me about a woman in the industry that has inspired you in some way. Maybe there’s a project she did or a shoe she created or an initiative she started. It could be anything! I’ll get us started in the comments below. Let me know something family.
Elizabeth Semmelhack over at the Bata Shoe Museum. She's an absolute force and incredible advocate for where sneaker culture and history has evolved. I also got lucky enough to have her pen an edition of Le Cinq: https://lecinq.substack.com/p/thirty-five-contributor-thirty-elizabeth
In a world where copping shoes is as hard as it's ever been, she makes the task so much easier for women everywhere through her IG page. And that role is as important as ever in 2021. I'm really looking forward to seeing how she continues to build this out this year.
Full disclosure: I interviewed her for KYW lololol. But still. I've been following her for a while now and the work she's doing is incredible. Y'all should support it.
For me it is Jazerai Allen-Lord. Since discovering her on google search and connecting via Twitter, I have learned so much about the footwear market from her views which are supported by data. She shine lights on some of the issues that are hidden or less discussed such as the inequality of gender within the footwear industry and the inequality of brand authorized footwear boutiques in America. I highly recommend reading some of her articles. It gives a different perspective on things that I didn’t know about as a sneaker enthusiast.
This is kinda tangential to sneakers but I'm inspired by the WNBA and Women's football.
I think the WNBA has huge potential waiting to be unlocked and the stuff they did getting Warnock's campaign on the map was really awesome. Women's football is coming on leaps and bounds and we've seen Nike investing more in women's football. They recently announced they're giving the Portland Thorns "AAA" status alongside Barcelona meaning they'll get more personalised products and access to the newest Nike templates ahead of other teams. This is really awesome to see this rise in status, and it would be cool to see them extend this to some European women's teams also. Understandable their focus is on the US though because the NWSL has got growing hype, hopefully to close the gap between the quality of domestic competition in the US and Europe.
I am super impressed and delighted about the work Aleali May does with Jordan. He style is fresh and unique to the brand and i love how her personality pops out in her collabs. I might not like all her work as far as shoes but I love hoe she is bold and loud with her creativity and not afraid to think outside the box
How can you not be impressed with Vic Jacobi’s comeup?
Went from a random kid in Israel to one of the biggest NBA/sneaker/brand ambassadors. It just hits different when a seemingly normal person is able to break the dimensional wall between us mortals and superstar athletes.
Elizabeth Semmelhack over at the Bata Shoe Museum. She's an absolute force and incredible advocate for where sneaker culture and history has evolved. I also got lucky enough to have her pen an edition of Le Cinq: https://lecinq.substack.com/p/thirty-five-contributor-thirty-elizabeth
SO glad you put me on to Elizabeth and the work she's doing. Thank you, dude.
PS: Mike also wrote an edition, fam: https://lecinq.substack.com/p/nine-contributor-five-michael-sykes
Holy hell this feels like it was yesterday and 20 years ago all at the same time LOL
Time is but a flat circle these days, Sykes ;-)
I can't help but be impressed by the community Christina Kenan has built through If I Can't Wear Sneakers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/if_i_cant_wear_snkrs/
In a world where copping shoes is as hard as it's ever been, she makes the task so much easier for women everywhere through her IG page. And that role is as important as ever in 2021. I'm really looking forward to seeing how she continues to build this out this year.
Full disclosure: I interviewed her for KYW lololol. But still. I've been following her for a while now and the work she's doing is incredible. Y'all should support it.
https://kyw.substack.com/p/the-kicks-you-wear-vol-87-strictly
For me it is Jazerai Allen-Lord. Since discovering her on google search and connecting via Twitter, I have learned so much about the footwear market from her views which are supported by data. She shine lights on some of the issues that are hidden or less discussed such as the inequality of gender within the footwear industry and the inequality of brand authorized footwear boutiques in America. I highly recommend reading some of her articles. It gives a different perspective on things that I didn’t know about as a sneaker enthusiast.
Doubling up on the Jazz love. One of the smartest and most forward-thinking people in footwear, period, male or female.
Thanks Brandon
This is kinda tangential to sneakers but I'm inspired by the WNBA and Women's football.
I think the WNBA has huge potential waiting to be unlocked and the stuff they did getting Warnock's campaign on the map was really awesome. Women's football is coming on leaps and bounds and we've seen Nike investing more in women's football. They recently announced they're giving the Portland Thorns "AAA" status alongside Barcelona meaning they'll get more personalised products and access to the newest Nike templates ahead of other teams. This is really awesome to see this rise in status, and it would be cool to see them extend this to some European women's teams also. Understandable their focus is on the US though because the NWSL has got growing hype, hopefully to close the gap between the quality of domestic competition in the US and Europe.
I am super impressed and delighted about the work Aleali May does with Jordan. He style is fresh and unique to the brand and i love how her personality pops out in her collabs. I might not like all her work as far as shoes but I love hoe she is bold and loud with her creativity and not afraid to think outside the box
How can you not be impressed with Vic Jacobi’s comeup?
Went from a random kid in Israel to one of the biggest NBA/sneaker/brand ambassadors. It just hits different when a seemingly normal person is able to break the dimensional wall between us mortals and superstar athletes.
https://local-hoops.com/pages/013-vic-jacobi