Designer Brands, JEMS by PENSOLE launch the FIRST JEM, inaugural shoe to roll off assembly line at one of the first Black-owned footwear factories in U.S.
- Designer Brands partners with JEMS by PENSOLE to create opportunity for underrepresented Black designers in the footwear industry.
- The FIRST JEM celebrates the legacy of Jan Ernst Matzeliger and his revolutionary invention of the Lasting Machine.
- Designer Brands plans to roll out future lines of athletic footwear by new brands and underrepresented designers in the coming years.
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Product release reinforces commitment to further the representation of people of color in the design and footwear industries
The FIRST JEM, available exclusively at DSW.com, is a shoe with a story unlike any other. While many sneakers are designed for or inspired by consumer lifestyle insights, trends, influencers, and professional athletes, the FIRST JEM is inspired by American history through the lens of a Black man who changed an entire industry over 140 years ago: Jan Ernst Matzeliger.
"The FIRST JEM celebrates Matzeliger's little-known legacy," said legendary footwear designer Dr. D'Wayne Edwards, founder of JEMS by PENSOLE and
To truly memorialize Matzeliger's impact, the FIRST JEM launches on his birthday, Sept. 15. With a hand-crafted leather finish and rich history in every stitch, this one-of-a-kind sneaker is a celebration of the past and a look at the future. The Lasting Machine is shown on the sock liner, while the JEMS badge logo represents the most valuable gem of all — a diamond — symbolizing the gem that Matzeliger was, and the future gems that JEMS by PENSOLE will foster. Even the acronym, JEMS, stands for Jan Ernst Matzeliger Studio.
"Diversity drives innovation and brings new thinking, designs and products to consumers, yet Black representation sits at less than five percent across all design industries," said Designer Brands President Bill Jordan. "We're excited to partner with Dr. Edwards on the JEMS by PENSOLE line. FIRST JEM is just the beginning step in our goal to forge entrepreneurial opportunities for underrepresented footwear designers and make their vision and designs accessible to our customers at DSW stores."
Designer Brands and JEMS by PENSOLE plan to utilize the new
About Designer Brands
Designer Brands is one of the world's largest designers, producers and retailers of the most recognizable footwear brands and accessories, transforming and defining the footwear industry through a mission of inspiring self-expression. With a diversified, world-class portfolio of coveted brands, including Keds, Lucky Brand, Crown Vintage, Vince Camuto, Topo Athletic, Jessica Simpson, Le TIGRE and others, Designer Brands designs and produces on-trend footwear and accessories for all of life's occasions delivered to the consumer through a robust direct-to-consumer omni-channel infrastructure and powerful national wholesale distribution. Powered by a billion-dollar digital commerce business across multiple domains and nearly 640 DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and The Shoe Company stores in
About Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC)
Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design is the pipeline for career education and professional development in the design industry. We are the source for creative vision and progress; bearing the torch to push the culture forward — beyond what's visible. At Pensole Lewis College, we offer a new path to break into the world of product creation. We prepare the largest talent pool of designers to enter the industry empowering them to make it better for the next generation, leaving our industry better than when we entered it. For more information, please visit www.pensolelewiscollege.com.
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SOURCE Designer Brands Inc.