Why I Love Sneakers: Timberland’s Diversity is Changing in Real Time

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With the upcoming Black Footwear Forum, I decided to check in on Timberland a VF Corp company, to see if the brand had remained true to their Announcement to Improve Racial Equity within the company: https://www.vfc.com/news/press-release/1750/vf-corporation-announces-new-programs-and-actions-to What I found is one of the best stories of the year in the sneaker industry. The company has…

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The Wholesale Hole Left by Nike is Inspiring Creativity | Designer Brands Invests in Black-Owned Footwear Factory Led by Pensole Founder

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In this new partnership, Designer Brands will invest in the first Black-owned footwear factory in the United States – JEMS by Pensole – to produce shoes designed by PLC graduate students, to be sold exclusively at DSW. Source: Designer Brands Announces $2 Million Investment into First Black-Owned U.S. Footwear Factory, Partnering with Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, President of…

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An End of the Year Sneaker Celebration: Gov. Whitmer Signs Bill into Law Re-Establishing Michigan’s First HBCU | PENSOLE Levels Up

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While we’ve been writing our sneaker lists and checking them twice, the Governor of Detroit knew who was nice and worthy of a year end bill being signed into law. Unlike Schoolhouse Rock, where a bill has to become a law, there isn’t any head hanging of the bill sitting on the government steps here. …

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Allbirds x PENSOLE presents Better Responsible Design Program (BRD) – Pensole Design Academy

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Source: Allbirds x PENSOLE presents Better Responsible Design Program (BRD) – Pensole Design Academy NOTE: Applications for the BRD program are open today (April 19) through Monday, May 24. The course will run for six weeks starting Monday, June 7th.  Allbirds & PENSOLE are searching for aspiring designers who want to help reshape how the world perceives sustainability. We…

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Timberland®, Vans® & THE NORTH FACE® ‘Divercity x Design’ Masterclass with PENSOLE ACADEMY™

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Download the Submission Brief: https://pensole.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/EDITED-PENSOLE-SUBMISSION-BRIEF.pdf VF CORPORATION’S TIMBERLAND®, VANS® AND THE NORTH FACE® BRANDS ANNOUNCE ‘DIVERCITY X DESIGN’ IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PENSOLE ACADEMY™ Year-long design and education apprenticeship program aims to cultivate and advance BIPOC talent within the footwear industry; Open enrollment begins March 9 DENVER, CO – March 9, 2021 – VF Corporation (NYSE:…

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Do You Want to Win the Envision Sneaker & Backpack from cote et ciel x Pensole x Vibram (GH)? 1 of 2

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Register for the Envision Mentorship Program: https://pensole.com/master-class/the-envision-mentorship-program/ The Envision Mentorship program seeks to connect the creative youth with a life enhancing opportunity by connecting them to industry visionaries in the fields of design, journalism, music, media, and marketing. Qualified candidates for the Envision Mentorship program will receive career guidance and exclusive product to prepare them…

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Insider Ties: Episode 195 | FootLocker Frustrates Me: New Balance x Pensole 2020 CX Issues

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Buy my books on the sneaker industry: https://amzn.to/3lD82gb New Balance x Pensole on FootLocker: https://www.footlocker.com/category/collection/new-balance-pensole.html?fbclid=IwAR1FDxTx0oIIvvqwHUsDu4dDwGYTPHyEK3I3A8vnSnLkr5LDnfWc58fxc-U New Balance x Pensole Video on NB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1UEAU9v6pg I’ve been writing about the relationship between Pensole and FootLocker since I learned that they placed seed money into the Instructional Design Academy. I’ve long discussed that retail will have to…

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The Frustration of Building Diversity in the Sneaker Industry | adidas TEAM SUPERSTAR: S.E.E.D. SCHOOL

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Source: A design program in partnership with Pensole at the Brooklyn Creator Farm supported by Pharrell Williams. Less than a month ago I wrote a post scratching the surface of the problem of creating diversity in the sneaker industry: adidas’ Dilemma, Nike’s Reality and All Industries’ ‘Truths’: a Paradox On the Difficult Path to Equality…

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Vibram and PENSOLE Sign Multi-Year Deal to  Foster Talent of Budding Sneaker Designers

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Source: Pensole Design Academy – Portland, Oregon BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 9, 2020 – As the world leader in producing high-performance rubber outsoles, Vibram has signed a multi-year partnership agreement with PENSOLE Academy, which starts this year. This new agreement further establishes the longstanding relationship between the two organizations in fostering strong industry relationships and developing innovations. In this…

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Portland Business Journal Announces Foot Locker’s 2 Million Dollar Investment Into Pensole

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The New York City-based athletic footwear and apparel retailer on Thursday announced a $2 million investment in Pensole Footwear Design Academy, the Portland-based school that Edwards started in 2010 to teach the next generation of designers. The investment is the biggest sign yet that Pensole has emerged as a critical part of the athletic footwear…

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FDRA and PENSOLE Launch Celebration of African Americans in Footwear as Nike Hires G Scott Uzzell as President and CEO of Converse

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December 20, 2018: Matt Priest posted images on LinkedIn Source:  we will be gathering as an industry at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture to celebrate the innumerable contributions African Americans have given to our industry As multiple Black executives seem to be climbing the ladder towards a glass ceiling,…

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Pensole Footwear Design | Pensole Skills Academy Session C – For Women Only

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Source: https://pensole.com/pensole-skills-academy/ PENSOLE SKILLS ACADEMY | DESIGN SUMMER STUDY PENSOLE Skills Academy is the ideal design summer study program. Six days of class to sharpen skills in the following design disciplines: 3D modeling, Color & Material Design, Concept Creation, Footwear Design, and Functional Apparel & Accessory Design. From high school students looking to start or improve portfolio’s to…

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Sneakerhead of State by PENSOLE | High School Design Competition | Careers in Sneakers

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  Source: http://sneakerheadofstate.com As a former high school head coach, teacher and college professor my entire YouTube channel and all of my websites cater to one thing, educating and empowering those who don’t realize there are opportunities in the world of sneakers that go way beyond just copping and reselling. D’Wayne Edwards is placing a call…

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