D’Wayne Edwards: The Sneaker Icon Reviving an HBCU
Sneaker culture is Black culture. It’s an extension of identity and self-expression. Yet for decades, major brands heavily marketed to Black youth without offering them a seat at the design table.
Enter Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, the most prominent Black designer in footwear history. Over a legendary 32+ year career, Edwards climbed from an LA Gear file clerk to Jordan Brand’s Design Director, famously creating the Air Jordan 21 using MJ’s luxury Bentley as inspiration.
Because his own path was so difficult, Edwards shifted from the corporate space to education. In 2010, he founded PENSOLE, the world’s preeminent footwear design academy. Today, it is a pipeline that has placed over 500 alumni at global giants like Nike, Adidas, and New Balance.
Now, as President of Pensole Lewis College (PLC) in Detroit, Edwards has made history by resurrecting Michigan’s only HBCU. It stands as the first shuttered HBCU in U.S. history to successfully reopen. Backed by a $10 million Gilbert Family Foundation grant, PLC is a tuition-free, corporate-funded powerhouse. Dr. Edwards hasn’t just made iconic shoes but he has bridged the gap, ensuring Black creatives are the compensated authors of our culture. Read more about D’Wayne Edwards and PLC HERE.
