E D I TOR’S NOT E
Legacy Matters
star power worn by Carmelo Anthony, Derek Jeter and Roy Jones, Jr. The way he convinced Skechers CEO Robert Greenberg, then CEO of LA Gear, to give him his first big break would make a terrific movie scene. So would Edwards receiving a signed version of the shoe he designed for Roy Jones, Jr.’s title bout reading “new heavyweight champion”—the day before Jones’s fight. OVER THE PAST quarter century, I’ve had the Edwards decided to walk away from his dream job to launch a design pleasure of featuring thousands of people in these academy that gives people of color a chance—for free—to fulfill their pages. Each of them is unique, though they share sneaker designer dreams too. Over the past decade, the academy has the common trait of involvement in the shoe served as a pipeline of new talent, while also addressing the industry’s business. Designers, retailers, manufacturers, lack of diversity. Edwards is now leading the charge to open PLC in reps, marketers, middlemen, spokespeople, suppliers, influencers, Detroit, which will eventually offer a full range of design programs—on a hustlers, hucksters…many kinds of people make up our dynamic new campus, to boot. DBI, parent company of DSW, has also partnered industry. They all come from somewhere and got here somehow. with PLC to open the first ever Black-owned U.S. factory that will see They all have stories. graduates design shoes sold exclusively in its stores. It reads like a Best Our industry is quite diverse in that regard. People hail from around the Oscar contender. And there are more great scenes ahead. world. Their paths into this business are just as diverse. There are those Edwards’ industry legacy is already remarkable. Until a movie about who represent the latest generation of families with deep shoe legacies. his life comes out, I highly recommend They were born into this business and their reading the article in this issue. It is one veins seem made of shoe leather. Others of the most inspiring shoepeople stories follow a less linear but still logical path into I’ve had the pleasure to write. Edwards the industry—like architects who go on to Edwards’ industry could have ridden off into the sunset as become shoe designers. Pierre Cardin, Tom legacy is already remarkable. one of the great sneaker designers of all Ford and Virgil Abloh, to cite a few. time. Instead, he is defying the odds again, Then there are those who come to our Until a movie about creating a completely different legacy that industry out of left field. For example, the his life comes out, I highly pays it forward on an industry-altering couple who founded New England Loom (p. scale. He is one of a kind. 52). What started a few years ago as a vintage recommend reading the Speaking of legacy, it is with sadness rug boutique is entering the wholesale shoe that I note the passing of Thomas Hudson, business this fall with its “no two mules are article in this issue. Jr., the founder of Footwear Plus. Some of alike” collection made from rug remnants. you may remember “Tommy” from when Lyndsay and Josh Graziano’s path, through he owned the publication, 1990 to 2005. a partnership with a Turkish factory, is It was his vision to introduce a colorful, refreshingly unexpected. Welcome. fashion-focused magazine that mirrored the beauty of our industry. It Then there’s the made-for-Hollywood story of Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, was a completely fresh concept at the time—one that set a new editorial legendary sneaker designer, founder of the Pensole Design Academy standard for our industry and all trade publications. and now president of the new Pensole Lewis College of Business & I worked for Tommy for 12 years and spent a decade as editor-in-chief Design (PLC). He is the latest recipient of our Plus Award for Lifeof the magazine. A deep-sea fisherman at heart, he let me chart my own time Achievement (p. 13). Edwards’ life story is truly exceptional. As a course. And while such freedom surely had risks, especially for a young Black kid growing up in the murder capital of America, his dream of editor, he always encouraged me to cast a wide net and to speak my mind. becoming a sneaker designer seemed impossible. But he reached the If I missed the mark, he never criticized. He just said, “Try again.” Being pinnacle of brands at the top sneaker company in the world. His journey given the trust, support and freedom to create is rare. It helped me grow there reads like a movie script. Edwards, who couldn’t afford college, as an editor and a writer. It’s the mark of a good publisher. Also, Tommy has blazed a trail for others like him to follow. During his decade-long didn’t have a mean bone in his body. That’s a good legacy to have, too. reign as Design Director for Jordan Brand he designed iconic styles You’ve seen your birth, your life and death; you might recall all of the rest. Did you have a good world when you died? Enough to base a movie on? —Jim Morrison
Greg Dutter
Editorial Director
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