I recently got an opportunity to preview the JEMS by Pensole sneaker a bit early. I was able to pull images from the videos available to provide as much of an early look at the drop as possible. The history lesson involved with one of the most important sneakers in the history of Black America and the shoe industry is too much not to share early. While you won’t get the full picture of the sneaker, I wanted to deliver how Dr. Edwards broke down the design of the sneaker in his own words.
The sneaker is, “Not a Performance Sneaker, but a Signature Sneaker conveying a real, authentic story. The Red and Blue outsole represent the Suriname background of Jan Ernst Matzeliger and at the laces (which are gradient, and the colors don’t show until they are tied) the colors represent the United States. The sneaker provides a tour. Copper lace aglets and JEMS logo are in copper for the abolishment of slavery by Lincoln, which led to Jan’s freedom and therefore the creation of the lasting machine. X lace slots and a semigloss layer of words about Jan’s life with details about the creation of the sneaker,” are throughout the upper – Dr. Dwayne Edwards. While the sneaker has an obvious narrative, I can’t help but think Dr. Edwards has also utilized his Los Angeles background to bring together the red and blue colors of the gang culture that could have shaped his life negatively. There are so many different narratives which could be created and explained with the design of the JEMS.
The JEMS Sneaker breakdown is everything that gives an inanimate object, a sneaker, the characterization and qualities needed to create an emotional attachment. I was able to nab a few screenshots of the upcoming drop taking place with DSW and JEMS by Pensole. The story behind the design, the sneaker itself is a journey into a premium sneaker drop. The sneaker is made in the U.S. with quality construction and amazing details. There are far too many brands entering the landscape with only a cool color as the reason for creation. This sneaker looks like it was born out of a fashion house. Check the screenshots out below. The FIRST JEM that launches 9/15/23, less than ten days away!
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