This is Dallas-based JerLisa‘s third year in a row providing us with a sneaker of the year list. We put her on repeat because she’s an important (and frequently hilarious) voice in real life and online, where she celebrates Black American men and women as a foundational part of sneaker culture.
As part of an effort to create community, JerLisa, a mother of two, organizes a Black History Month-themed hashtag dubbed BHMKOTD (Black History Month Kicks of the Day) that celebrates the month by encouraging people to post image images of themselves wearing shoes that celebrate the various themes, such as “a shoe created by a Black designer.” In addition to online organizing, JerLisa has also organized several sneaker drives for kids in needs.
JerLisa selected Nike and Kids of Immigrants‘ Air Max Sunder as her No. 1 pick. Emphasizing KOI’s power to breathe new life into the silhouette, JerLisa said, “Kids of Immigrants executed the return of the Sunder the best. Starting with Nike and Comme des Garçons high fashion Sunder collab earlier this year, Kids of Immigrants’ bright summer colors were a great way to end the year and bring new eyes to a silhouette that didn’t have many deep fans prior.”
Check out all her selections below.
