COMUNITYmade is a catalyst for change. We sell premium shoes, handcrafted locally in L.A. and give locally to support the arts, education and ending homelessness. The sale of our shoes fuels our mission to inspire action, participation and empowerment of others in the community. Changing perspectives from ME to WE.
Source: COMUNITYmade premium shoes. Handcrafted Locally, Giving Locally.
Kanye drives engagement in the sneaker community. A few months ago he made the statement that he wanted to make his Yeezy line in Wyoming/the USA and a week after he made that statement adidas, his parent company, closed its Speedfactory production facility in Georgia removing the only connection adidas had to manufacturing in the U.S. Why would I start a post about a Downtown Los Angeles company with Yeezy? Because I’m proving a point. Yeezy makes you listen/read. If had started this post off with, “There is a not so new footwear company producing shoes in the U.S. in Downtown Los Angeles, old school cobbler style, with a distinctive and modern flair,” the first statement would be, “It ain’t Yeezy though,” or “I only rock Js.” Which brings me back to why I led with information on Kanye. I can make this statement:
People pay 220.00 dollars for a mass produced, knit shoe sitting atop a midsole and outsole using the same cushion as Puma Energy Beads (yes BOOST and Puma NRGY are the same materials made by BASF). This shoe lacks any real structure and is basically a glorified houseshoe with cushion and after tax on the 350 people are paying almost 250 a pair. 300 on other Yeezy models, but the idea of buying Made in the US makes Yeezy more exciting when the reality is
Premium
Luxury
Unique
Socially Responsible
Handmade
– kicks are already available that are made in the US, in Los Angeles, and the odds are you haven’t heard of them because they don’t endorse some random influencer who makes you feel cool when you wear their stuff. (By the way, do you see what I did up there with the acronym PLUSH? I get inspired by dope s–t.)
Right now, someone is saying well those aren’t the kind of kicks I want to rock. Yeezy has a more athletic profile. COMUNITYmade footwear is both athletic, and stylish, but let me explain what they do when they sell you a pair of their kicks:
A donation will be sent on your behalf to the charity of your choice – at no extra cost to you. After completing this purchase, we’ll provide the link for you to select your charity or one of our favorites to earn more.
Now think about this, when a shoe is made the materials are all purchased from a supply chain that empowers the community. The cobblers live, work and break bread in LA. This creates jobs and then the brand donates to charity, creating a locally based supply chain. This should really be enough because the company is creating jobs and rebuilding a business that has died in the U.S. in handcrafting sneakers. The donation aspect is just an additional reason.
I first discovered COMUNITYmade when I was invited to speak at the Los Angeles Footwear Innovation Summit. Dr. Geoff of Heeluxe was wearing a pair of the Mateos. I was wearing a pair of Greats Brand Prontos. I didn’t know what he had on and he didn’t know what I was wearing. We saw the Summit as an opportunity since we knew most people would be wearing ‘industry’ shoes and we both wanted to make a statement about buying sneakers that broke the mold and would create the question, “What are those?” but not in the bad ‘sneakerhead’ way. When he explained that his shoes were locally made, I wanted to make it over to the shop, but my flight was planned for me by the Summit and I had to leave before making it over. I honestly forgot about the brand until recently when I was discussion sustainability and New Balance. One of the founders, Sean Scott reminded me that it’s one thing to make one model sustainably. It’s a completely other thing to create a company built around an entire concept of community.
The carbon footprint of importing shoes, the wastefulness in mass production vs hand-making footwear makes a ton of difference and it shouldn’t take Yeezy to make you feel cool wearing a pair of kicks.
I just thought you should know that they exist.