Learn About Sneaker Jobs at Reebok
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Student Success: Kieran Coyle, The Sole Supplier
Sneaker Essentials Graduate. Digital Creator. Content Writer for The Sole Supplier.
Brittney Perry Gives Us The Sneaker Essentials Scoop for #SoICould
Name: Brittney Perry
Course: Sneaker Essentials
Instagram: @perrycoshoes
Website: https://perrycoshoes.com/
Where are you working now?
Has your experience in Sneaker Essentials impacted your career at all yet, and if so, how?
It got me back in the groove of graphic design and some of the basics or brainstorming ideas such as mood-boards.
Why did you think the course was right for you when you enrolled?
I wanted to have a better understanding of the history of sneakers and how they are made.
How did the course prepare you for working in the sneaker industry?
Taking the course would allow me to speak more intelligently about sneakers. Knowing the history and technical terms would definitely help anyone stand out to a potential sneaker employer.
How did the partnership with Fashion Institute of Technology for Sneaker Essentials affect your choice to take the program?
Complex gave the sneaker program more credibility. Seeing that I could potentially have opportunities to be featured by Complex and work with others in that space was encouraging.
What is your biggest takeaway from this program?
Learning the ins and out of how a sneaker is made as well as the parts of the shoe was really beneficial. Even though I have a sneaker brand now, the program helped me gain a greater understanding of sneakers. This can help me communicate my ideas clearly to my manufacturer.
What would you say to a friend or fellow Sneakerhead about Sneaker Essentials?
If you want to have a career in the footwear industry, I would highly suggest enrolling in Sneaker Essentials. You will learn the ins and outs of the industry. Not only about sneakers, but also marketing, design, and videography in the sneaker field.
Jasmine O’Conner Talks Sneakers, Coursework and Following Her Passion
Name: Jasmine O’Conner
Course: Sneaker Essentials
Instagram: @jasmine_oconner
I enrolled in Sneaker Essentials so I could..
Follow my passion and dream of working in the sneaker industry.
Where are you working now?
Cummins Inc.
Has your experience in Sneaker Essentials impacted your career at all yet, and if so, how?
Not yet.
Why did you think the course was right for you when you enrolled?
I knew this course was right for me when I enrolled because I had just started a new chapter in my life and was ready to go after my sneaker passion.
How did the course prepare you for working in the sneaker industry?
I have way more knowledge about the sneaker industry than I did 12 months ago.
How did the partnership with Fashion Institute of Technology for Sneaker Essentials affect your choice to take the program?
It highly affected my decision. I’m always looking for things that are real and have credibility
What is your biggest takeaway from this program?
I loved learning about the design process and the thought that goes into it. It was very helpful to see the inside of the factories as well.
What would you say to a friend or fellow Sneakerhead about Sneaker Essentials?
Taking Sneaker Essentials was a very humbling experience and I would recommend the course.
“So I Could…” | Abigail Killam
Name: Abigail Killam
Course: Sneaker Essentials
Instagram: @ajkillam1202
I enrolled in Sneaker Essentials so I could..
enhance my knowledge of the sneaker industry and strengthen my resume to land a job in the fashion retail industry.
Where are you working now?
Everbridge.
Has your experience in Sneaker Essentials impacted your career at all yet, and if so, how?
It has been a strong talking point on interviews.
Why did you think the course was right for you when you enrolled?
I want to get into the fashion retail industry specifically footwear and this course just seemed like it would help me on that career path.
How did the course prepare you for working in the sneaker industry?
I find that this course gave me great knowledge and boosted my confidence in sneaker knowledge.
How did the partnership with Fashion Institute of Technology for Sneaker Essentials affect your choice to take the program?
It heavily affected my choice as the Fashion Institute of Technology has a reputation for being one of the best schools in the world for fashion and if I was going to take a class it might as well be from the best.
What is your biggest takeaway from this program?
The creative skills I have built for myself in the assignments I had such as creating the mood board to designing sneakers, and creating an unboxing video.
What would you say to a friend or fellow Sneakerhead about Sneaker Essentials?
I would highly recommend enrolling if you want to do a deep dive into every aspect of the sneaker industry.
“So I Could…” | Michael Franz
Name: Michael Franz
Course: Sneaker Essentials
Instagram: @welcomemyfranz
I enrolled in Sneaker Essentials so I could..
pivot my career path to sneakers through the added skills this course provided.
Where are you working now?
American Honda Motor Co. as a District Sales Manager in Atlanta, GA
Has your experience in Sneaker Essentials impacted your career at all yet, and if so, how?
I used the downtime of the past 3 months pandemic to buy an ipad and apple pencil and learn to design mockups in Procreate, some paid opportunities have already come through the pipe, my final assignment being an example of that.
Why did you think the course was right for you when you enrolled?
Because I love all things sneakers and wanted to become a student of my passion!
How did the course prepare you for working in the sneaker industry?
It taught me the top down view of what the industry looks like and what the different roles entail. I was able to see where sneakers began and where they are going in all facets as well and that was important to being a well rounded student of the industry.
How did the partnership with Fashion Institute of Technology for Sneaker Essentials affect your choice to take the program?
Brought validity to the curriculum for me.
What is your biggest takeaway from this program?
That there is a vast amount of jobs and roles that you could fit in within the sneaker world, you just need to carve out your place in it by honing in on which part you love most.
What would you say to a friend or fellow Sneakerhead about Sneaker Essentials?
I would highly recommend taking the course and putting the time in to soak up every lesson.
“So I Could…” | Harrison Davis
Name: Harrison Davis
Course: Sneaker Essentials
Instagram: @sneakerscoffeechampagne
I enrolled in Sneaker Essentials so I could..
gain a more global perspective on the industry that I’m so passionate about.
Where are you working now?
Stadium Goods
Has your experience in Sneaker Essentials impacted your career at all yet, and if so, how?
Sneaker Essentials helped me decide what part of the industry I was most interested in pursuing the rest of my career in. Having owned a tier one independent sneaker boutique for 6 years, most of my vantage point comes from that angle of the industry. As I transitioned from Baltimore to NYC, Sneaker Essentials helped me to narrow down my specific interests within a much wider industry and endless opportunities in NYC. Ultimately I landed at Private Client Services at Stadium Goods. Being introduced to a more in-depth look in to the SG brand, and mission, during the Sneakers Essential course definitely impacted my decision to apply to positions at Stadium Goods.
Why did you think the course was right for you when you enrolled?
I enrolled in Sneaker Essentials to get a broader perspective of the industry, end-to-end. My primary experiences had been as a collector and owner in the independent space. To grow my career and be able to compete in the NYC market I wanted to grow my knowledge of design, supply channels, big box, mass marketing, etc.
How did the course prepare you for working in the sneaker industry?
The course gave me great perspective into the mass amount of different avenues you can take within the sneaker industry. From design, to supply chain, processing, management, buying, customer service; I really feel like the course gave a great overview of the industry as a whole.
How did the partnership with Fashion Institute of Technology for Sneaker Essentials affect your choice to take the program?
Just like FIT legitimizes the knowledge being shared, the partnership with Complex legitimizes that the people sharing the knowledge are significant in sneaker culture, beyond just knowledge.
What assignment, course, and/or instructor sticks out in your mind or taught you something valuable?
Sue from Rime really stuck out in my mind. Her authentic story about creating a boutique in the early 2000’s, to her first collab with Puma, to the struggles of being independent really resonated with me, and gave great perspective around that era of the industry.
What would you say to a friend or fellow Sneakerhead about Sneaker Essentials?
I would tell friends that are both interested in getting into the industry, or who have been in the industry for a while, that the course is a great high level framework of the industry at large. For those looking to get into the industry, this gives invaluable insight into many of the heavy hitting brands and stores. For those who have been in the industry for a while, this allows you to look back at the industry from the outside in as you prepare to make your next moves or rethink old logic.
“So I Could…” | Miguel Feliz
Sneaker Essentials graduate Miguel Feliz gives his take on the course in his Testimonial video featured above. Press play to watch what he had to say!
Name: Miguel Feliz
Course: Sneaker Essentials
IG Handle: @spidermigz
I enrolled in Sneaker Essentials so I could..
continue to learn more about the industry I plan to pursue a profession in, regardless of whether my plan is successful or not.
Where are you working now?
Right now, I am a Seasonal Athlete at the Nike House of Innovation on 5th Avenue. Previously I had an unpaid internship at Staple Pigeon.
How did the course prepare you for working in the sneaker industry?
There wasn’t any rock that was left unturned really. The course covered everything that needed to be covered in the process of coming out with product, at least to my understanding. I learned about crucial aspects when it comes to the actual manufacturing of a sneaker, the history of footwear, and how to market a product alike. I came into the course knowing I love sneakers, but now because of the course,I now know that I love to tell stories and I want to use sneakers as the medium in which I tell those stories from a marketing perspective.
What assignment, course, and/or instructor sticks out in your mind or taught you something valuable?
The sneaker design project was really fascinating and nerve racking at first. I was afraid to tackle the challenge at first but eventually I came up with a great story to tell which was reflected on the design. Throughout the course of completing the assignment, I learned how to use Adobe Illustrator and found a new hobby in making sneaker templates to create custom colorways in my free time.
How did the partnership with the Fashion Institute of Technology for Sneaker Essentials affect your choice to take the program?
It played a big role. I actually wanted to attend FIT so to be involved with the school and sneakers alike is a good look for me.
Has your experience in Sneaker Essentials impacted your career at all yet, and if so, how?
It played a role in my interview process for Nike. It helped bolster my resume and show that I was really serious about getting involved in the industry one way or another.
What would you say to a friend or fellow sneakerhead about Sneaker Essentials?
If you really love sneakers as much as you say you do or want to learn something new, this course is for you. No question about it.
Reebok x Yellowbrick Want You to #WriteYourLegacy
“Legacy isn’t just what you leave behind, it’s what you create” – #WriteYourLegacy
Reebok silhouettes have a solid place in sneaker culture history. From the colorful 5411s that got their name because of their price plus tax to the Iverson legacy that followed him even after his career ended, their silhouettes and styles tell stories that will live on forever. There is so much to be said about creating something that’ll have a permanent place in the history of sneaker culture. Sneaker culture has been carefully curated for years. Whether it is a shoe design or an editorial written about a moment, playing a role in shaping the culture is epic. If you are a High School student with a design dream who wants to earn his/her spot in sneaker culture, this contest is for you.
Reebok and Yellowbrick have teamed up to help give young designers a chance to earn their spot in sneaker history. Fifteen High School students will have a chance at a mentorship opportunity with Xavier Jones, one of Reebok’s leading designers. Aside from an amazing mentorship opportunity, the chosen fifteen will also have a chance at a two-month apprenticeship with the brand and a chance to reimagine an iconic Reebok Classics silhouette. The application is open until April 15, 2020 @ 5pm EST. If you are a high school student or know a high school student who is ready to get their design on, click here to apply.
If a career in sneakers is something that you are interested in, visit Sneaker Essentials for more information.
MARTkd: Conversation With a Sneaker Design Director/Program Manager
Exclusive Conversation | MARTk’d Series: Episode 5 of 6
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Having a career in the sneaker industry is something that a lot of people dream about. Whether it’s designing a shoe or creating the blueprint for a sneaker boutique, the career opportunities are plentiful. Knowing the types of jobs that are available in an industry you are passionate about working in is important. Yellowbrick recognized that early and created Sneaker Essentials. Sneaker Essentials is a course created by F.I.T. faculty, Complex and sneaker industry experts designed to give students an inside look at the sneaker industry.
While there are plenty of opportunities for a career in sneakers, it’s no secret that the industry is a male dominated field. While women are definitely represented, the majority of the positions are filled by men. Enter Liz Connelly and Cheresse Thornhill…trailblazers in the world of sneakers. They recognized the need to educate more women in the space and created a way to make that happen. They are the founders of S.E.E.D, an intensive sneaker program designed to teach young women the logistics behind sneaker design. From the idea of the design to the production, Liz and Cheresse decided that creating a lane for women in the sneaker industry was key. They recently sat with Yellowbrick’s own Dion Walcott to discuss their journey, the ins and outs of sneaker design and project management.
This episode, sponsored by ENVSN, focuses on women in the sneaker industry and what it takes to make that happen. Special thanks to ENVSN, a multi-dimensional community, committed to the professional and self-development of Gen Z and millennial adapters and their aficionados. The founders, Sharifa Murdock and Laura Stylez, created a platform that helps young women thrive and grow into their best selves. For more information about ENVSN, follow them on Instagram at @envsn and visit envsnfestival.com for upcoming festival info.
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