11 REASONS THE SNEAKER INDUSTRY TOOK FLIGHT IN CHICAGO - PART 2
DREW GREER
??POLYMATH: Strategic Creator & Curator: CONTENT ? CONSUMER GOODs/SNEAKER Pioneer & Serial STORYTELLER ? Competitive PLAY-MAKER + Master HUMORIST
-THE CORNER BY COMMON
?? The LOVE JONES CHICAGO has with SNEAKERS aka GYM SHOES Can’t Be Denied.
?? The GOOD TIMES & HOOP DREAMS of the early foundation shared in
PART ONE of 11 REASONS THE SNEAKER INDUSTRY TOOK FLIGHT IN CHICAGO set the stage of what would Blossomed into making impact beyond “THE LOOP” and on to The World.
?? In This Segment We Will Discuss The Players, Pioneers, Merchants, Heroes and Icons as WE continue Our FLIGHT in SNEAKER History.
?? Buckle Up and Use The Restroom as we want you Safe and in a Comfortable State of Mind.
6. THE UNDERWORLD PLAYERS: The Real Dons
?? CHICAGO has a lengthy history of Political Corruption & Organized Crime. Earning the reputation as “THE CORRUPTION CAPITAL of AMERICA”.
??In many ways, THE WINDY CITY was built on Winner Take All and By All Means Necessary ethics.
??Incorporated in 1837 - and there were traces of Gangsterism surfacing as early as the 1850’s in CHICAGO.
?? Gambler MICHAEL CASSIUS McDONALD is recognized as CHICAGO’s “First True Crime Lord” and his Mob is credited with introducing the term: “SYNDICATE” based on the Gang’s “Crime Consortium”.
?? But AL CAPONE would put THE CHI on the map as he is considered "THE MOST NOTORIOUS GANGSTA" of All-Time.
?? Making most of his fortunes as an illegal distributor of alcohol during Prohibition with revenue in excess of $100 Million/annually, MR CAPONE obviously had major Influence as well as Power in The City of CHICAGO.
?? While CAPONE monopolizing bootlegging, The BLACK Community Ran & Dominated “The POLICY WHEELS” aka The illegal version of the Lottery as early as the 1800’s.
?? It would not be until 1974 that ILLINOIS would introduced the official State Lottery.
?? It is estimated at its peak THE POLICY EMPIRE & The KINGS who ran it, Grossed $50 Million/annually.
?? In CHICAGO, The POLICY KINGS formed a Syndicate that successfully fought off takeover by white organized crime for many years.
?? The men who ran the POLICY Hustle aka KINGS were some of the Wealthiest in The BLACK Community.
?? The POLICY KINGS really invested back into The BLACK Community in a very positive way with Robin HOOD intentions.
?? In the 1940s, EDDIE JONES and his brothers earned more than $180,000 per week in The BLACK Community via the POLICY Gambling Hustle.
?? The Economic Ecosystem of illegal gambling turned The BLACK CHICAGO Community of BRONZEVILLE into a thriving, self-sufficient neighborhood equipped with Banks, Merchants and Schools.
?? "The STROLL" was located on STATE STREET from 26th to 39th and centered on STATE & 35th in BRONZEVILLE.
??The opening of The SAVOY BALLROOM and The REGAL THEATER in the late 1920’s shifted the center of BRONZEVILLE activity to 47th Street & South Parkway (now Martin Luther King Jr. Drive).
?? Nightclubs were filled with festive music lovers gigging to the Blues and swinging to a new sound called Jazz that captured the Nation.
?? POLICY also provided thousands of jobs when & where employment opportunities were scarce.
?? The POLICY KINGS drove the finest cars, wore the most expensive clothes, owned summer homes and private airplanes, and vacationed in Europe and Mexico.
?? From The Plantation to The Plants (factory workers), POLICY would be a Revolutionizer that elevated the Economic Power and Status Drivers in BLACK Community of CHICAGO.
?? This Era Set The Stage For BLACK Style, Desires & Status in AMERICA.
?? It would not be until The 1950s that the Italian Mafia would take a stronghold on this lucrative Black Market Empire.
?? During the CIVIL RIGHTS ERA of the 1950s and 1960s, Street GANGS in CHICAGO exploded.
?? The Initial formation of GANGS in The BLACK COMMUNITY were to combat Racial Attacks & Discrimination Practices.
?? BLACK GANGS protested unfair Employment Opportunities and Marched against unjust Police Procedures that brought Harassment to the BLACK Community on no basis.
?? In the later years they transitioned into Selling Drugs and other activities so they could provide for their families being the Scarcity of Employment Opportunities for Men of Color.
?? “Street Pharmaceutical Salesmanship” was initially a survival tactic but transitioned into a much Larger Empire, Proposition and Community Killer.
?? Very similar to how the gang secs conceptualized in Los Angeles with the BLOOD & CRIPS but in BLACK CHICAGO GANG Alliances are split between The FOLKS & PEOPLES.
?? By the 1970s the prison systems were becoming packed with GANG Members and their power extended beyond the prison walls and on to the streets of CHICAGO.
?? LARRY HOOVER is The Most Recognized + Respected CHICAGO BLACK GANG Leader credited with organizing the FOLKS NATION while in prison where he controlled the Drug Trade in and outside the correctional facilities and later extending throughout the United States.
?? HOOVER’s Gang had approximately: 30,000 "Soldiers" in 35 States and made $100 Million/annually.
?? With This New Found "Street Wealth" coupled with the emergence of Hip Hop & Urban Culture, The Dope Boys aka Street Dealers quickly became Fashion Trend Leaders setting a new standard in mint Streetwear with SNEAKERS being a critical component of one’s attire.
?? Then in 1984 the CHICAGO BULLS would Draft a Kid Out of University of North Carolina.
?? He would introduce HIS signature collection of SNEAKERS & Apparel to The World raising the Stakes & Desires within the Streets of This Mighty Midwest City to new found heights.
?? Interesting in during this same period the Drug Trade escalated to feverish levels with SNEAKER Brands and Store profiting legally from these Street Economics.
?? The NIKE’s, ADIDAS's, REEBOK’s as well as smaller players like Asics, British Knights, Brooks, Converse, Ellesse, Etonic, Fila, L.A. Gear, New Balance, Pony, Puma, Starter and numerous Sportswear Brands had found a new, profitable and emerging market.
?? This also led to a frightening outbreak of crimes among poor BLACK & LATINO Kids trying to keep up with the fasting moving fashion trends of the time.
?? Driven by Peer Pressure, Advertising, The Strength of Local Street Icons rocking the latest as well as Sports Stars with the NBA & College Basketball Power House Teams leading The Way - this hypnotized Youth of Color who went all out to stay what was called labeled then as “FRESH”.
?? THE CHI would serve as a critical runway for the Global SNEAKER aka GYM SHOE Addiction that still lives today - and the BLACK Market in the BLACK MARKET of CHICAGO played a major role in this soaring industry.
7. RETAIL DELIGHT
?? CHICAGO has always been a City of RETAIL INNOVATION. CHICAGO's early Retail Revolutionaries included: Marshall Field, Richard W. Sears, Aaron Montgomery Ward, and Potter Palmer.
?? The influence of these major contributors reflects the magnificent entrepreneurial spirit of CHICAGO.
?? CHICAGO played a major role in the development of The DEPARTMENT STORE Concept's transformation in the early twentieth century as well as the Mail Catalog business which in many ways has very similar characteristics of the E-Commerce business of today.
?? All Dedicated & Devoted to Improving Customer Service.
?? And this same Pioneering Spirit holds true in CHICAGO’s SNEAKER Landscape.
?? In the early days of SNEAKERS in "THE WINDY CITY" resembles that of most cities.
??With the emergence of Hip Hop and Basketball Culture came a demand for Sportswear with SPORTING GOODS Stores being the primary source of goods.
?? In CHICAGO, the leading local but now defunct retailer in SPORTMART was a source as well as national chain & mall based FOOT LOCKER and The Original EVERGREEN PLAZA being the utmost destination.
?? But from a Mom & Pops Shop perspective MAXWELL STREET aka Jew-Town housed many independent SNEAKER Retailers.
??Including the legendary authorized accounts in TEAM BANK as well as CISCO’s.
??But MAXWELL had numerous unauthorized SNEAKER Peddlers as well.
?? Two SNEAKER Retailers are credited with elevating The SNEAKER Game and Experience in CHICAGO: NIKETOWN & TONY SPORTS.
?? NIKETOWN Dropped into “The Loop” in 1992 and offered a SNEAKER Retail Experience Never Offered Before outside of The SWOOSH’s Expression in it’s Home Community of PORTLAND.
?? This mammoth of a SNEAKER Retail destination would further NIKE’s leadership position, create brand awareness and fill The City of CHICAGO with Fresh AIR.
?? TONY SPORTS was birthed by TONY FERNANDEZ who transformed His Father’s Shoe Store, LA MODA SHOES from a DISCO Platform Shoe Paradise into a SNEAKER Heaven!
?? TONY holds the honor of being "THE GODFATHER of SPORTSWEAR"in CHICAGO as the first in The City to offer "Head-To-Toe" Solutions with his endless collection of brands, starting with SNEAKERS but extending into Leading Streetwear Apparel.
?? Inspired by Hip Hop Videos. the Desire to Feed his Consumers' Style Quest and separate his stores from SPORTING GOODS Outlets as well as straight transactional SNEAKER Retailers, TONY Hustled!
??DON FERNANDEZ traveled to NEW YORK as well as The Atlanta Super Show in search of the emerging urban focused Apparel Brands to "Hook-Up" with His SNEAKER Assortments.
?? TONY SPORTS would serve as the training ground and “SNEAKER Tree” to many Stars of The Industry Today in CHICAGO.
??CHICAO's Independently owned franchise of ATHLETE's FOOT, lead by the savvy businessman JOHN PARK as well as CITY SPORTS would follow his lead in creating a new lane and outlets for CHICAGO’s hungry SNEAKER Community.
?? EVOLUTION is The Core of Growth and The SNEAKER Landscape in CHICAGO as well as around The WORLD has Bloomed Beyond Belief.
?? Today in "THE CHI", there is an relatively new infiltration of SNEAKER Retail including ST ALFRED and RSVP GALLERY owned by the renowned DON C & Cultural Maven VIRGIL ABLOH who holds several areas of expertise including Fashion Designer, DJ and Artist.
?? Currently, TONY SPORTS' DNA & “SNEAKER TREE” of Family Still Moves the Needle in CHICAGO‘s GYM SHOE Game.
?? Including the Boutique, SUCCEZZ, co-Owned & Founded by VEL 'V-DOT" SYKES - former CUSTOMER CONCIERGE & In-House Stylist,
?? Then their is LEADERS who’s CREATIVE & MANAGEMENT is spearheaded by Industry Vet, DIEGO ROSS who once served as GM of TONY’s.
?? DAVE JEFF is also a former TS employee who has established himself as a SNEAKER Consultant & Influencer.
?? And CHARLES WILLIAMS who once worked the floors of TONY SPORTS elevating to VP of NIKE BASKETBALL & SPORTSWEAR.
THE SNEAKER INDUSTRY MUST D.I.E
?? Another beautiful fact is very reminiscent of the HeyDay of BRONZEVILLE, RSVP Gallery in VIRGIL, SUCCEZZ in VEL and LEADERS in COREY GILKEY are all BLACK OWNED.
?? Unfortunately, many of the brands including the one who has benefited the most from The City of CHICAGO’s Love of Sports, SNEAKERS, Style and Home to the Greatest GYM SHOE endorser of All-Time is not giving some of these BLACK OWNED Retail Players access to all their coveted products in respectful amounts to insure their existence.
?? Some may just call it business but I think it sensitive and a bit CULTURE VULTURE in nature.
?? There are only approximately 16 BLACK OWNED SNEAKER RETAILERS in The World - and it seems effort would be made to preserve them!
?? FACTS: Being Our Community took the business from a SPORTING GOODS BUSINESS to a becoming a Mega Billions of Dollar GLOBAL CULTURE.
?? In This KeyNote Presentation I Touch on How The:
THE SNEAKER INDUSTRY MUST D.I.E.:
8. PIP
?? SCOTTIE PIPPEN is Arguable The Greatest All-Around Player to Ever Play in The NBA and Most Under Appreciated.
?? 6× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
?? 7× NBA All-Star (1990, 1992–1997)
?? NBA All-Star Game MVP (1994)
?? 10x NBA All-Defensive Team (1991-2000)
?? NBA Steals Leader (1995)
?? USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Yea6 1996
?? NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
??2x Olympic Gold Medal Winner
?? PIPPEN Invented the Point-Forward position as a CHICAGO BULL and this once unique role is commonplace in today's position-less NBA Game.
?? SCOTTIE was unfortunately but fortunately to be VP to The G.O.A.T and always had "HIS BACK" but was never afforded the respect HE truly earned and this holds true in the SNEAKER Game as well.
"Living like SCOTTIE PIPPEN, Dribble Riddles for Vittles"
-SIXTEEN BY RICK ROSS
?? NO SIDE KICKS: PIPPEN was a Key Athlete to Compete in some of the Greatest Non-Signature SNEAKERS ever introduced.
??33's List of SNEAKERs rocked over His 17 Years in The NBA including: Nike Air More Uptempo, Air Max Uptempo, Air Flight '89, Air Flight Huarache as well as The AIR JORDAN 10 & 11 - before JORDAN was a brand and had a pool of endorsers.
?? SCOTTIE's SNEAKER Game was often Overshadowed By His Stellar Teammate and other Players during his career including:
??PENNY HARDAWAY, CHARLES BARKLEY, KOBE BRYANT and ALLEN IVERSON
??But in reviewing all of PIP's Signature Models, PE's, Playoff & Olympic Editions - He definitely deserves credit for elevating the SNEAKER Game on some of the biggest stages.
?? PIPPEN has plenty of 'P's" in His name but His Play & SNEAKERS on The Courts MUST be Recognize at a Hall-of-Fame proportions.
7-7-3, oh, since KANYE was a Three-old
Down the Street from D. ROSE, was Practicing his Free Throws
-"HEY MA" BY CHANCE THE RAPPER
9. ROSE
?? The Early Chapters of DERRICK ROSE's aka POOH NBA Career could not have been written any better.
?? A CHICAGO Native who grew up a BULLS Fan and later would Star at National Power SIMEON High School.
??Drafted Out of University of Memphis as the #1 Pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by His Hometown BULLS - going on to win Rookie of The Year.
?? ROSE Signed with adidas and eventually landed at the time. the Second Largest SNEAKER Endorsement Deal in History.
??OCTOBER 2010, DERRICK ROSE & adidas launched his first Signature Sneaker, the adiZero ROSE.
?? But unfortunately a series of devastating knee injuries has reduced ROSE's game and he has become a hard playing JourneyMan - but ROSE continues to KICK/PUSH CHICAGO Style!
??So much so that adidas still produces new ROSE Signature SNEAKERs even though he is not currently a NBA starter.
??ROSE has One of The Top 15 Global Jersey Sells in The NBA based on CHINA's infatuation with His Brand.
?? So although ROSE's Play has fallen off. the kid from CHICAGO still is a Vital Ambassador spreading the Love of Basketball and SNEAKERS around The World.
10. FAMILY BUSINESS
?? LOVE or HATE HIM, The influence KANYE WEST has had on FASHION is Undeniable.
??The CHICAGO Native has become one of the Most Polarizing Celebrities during this Digital Era we Live in Today.
??MR WEST has become a Brand all within himself including His Unprecedented Impact on The SNEAKER Industry.
YEEZY, YEZZY, YEZZY Just Jumped Over JUMPMAN
-FACTS BY KANYE WEST
?? From BAPESTAS to LOUIS VUITTON - From REEBOK on The Low to NIKE and His Current YEEZY EMPIRE with adidas, KANYE has destroyed the model of:
- WHAT IS POSSIBLE!
?? Estimates have been shared that the adidas x YEEZY Business is in excess of $1 Billion Dollars.
??So in Essence it Did MAKE CENTS for KANYE to Bounce From His Partnership with NIKE and Sign a Deal with adidas.
?? BUT KANYE's Impact in The SNEAKER & Greater Fashion Game does not end with HisSelf but Extends into His Greater CHICAGO FAMILY.
?? Three of YE's Former Partners in Fashion Crime via his School of DONDA who also all share CHICAGO Roots are disrupting The Industry in many ways.
?? VIRGIL ABLOH who we have touched on earlier is one of the Leading Muscles in Fashion, Currently Leading LOUIS VUTTON as Men's Artistic Director coupled with His OFF-WHITE Streetwear Brand and is "THAT DUDE" in SNEAKER Collaborations.
??Then there is KANYE's former executive at His G.O.O.D. Music label, DON C who has Jumped in The Game as well with His Brand, JUST DON and is also making waves with His SNEAKER COLLABS across SNEAKER Brands.
??And lastly there is JERRY LORENZO with His Leading Brand FEAR of GOD who also has some CHICAGO Roots (his father was even manager of The CHICAGO WHITE SOX for a Period) - that at one point provided CREATIVE FORCE for KANYE's Expression of Goods has also entered the SNEAKER co-Design Game.
?? So KANYE is NO SLAVE to FASHION but Owns His MASTERS and Currently No-One Can Question the Fact He Has ALL OF THE LIGHTS!
CLOSE
?? My initial plan was to make this a TWO-PART Article.
?? But after Deep Thought & Consideration it seemed only right to give THE GOAT His True Justice with The Utmost Respect and Drop a Final Part of This Article Dedicated SOLELY/SOULY On His AIRNESS.
?? So there is going to be an Overtime on this DROP but we have Plenty of Fuel and The Pilot taking us Home can truly Fly like no other.
?? COMING SOON: PART TWO 3: THE GOAT
Phenomenal Storytelling. RESPECT!
Account Specialist at Americrane & Hoist Corp.
4 年Love this, well done
All things Sneakers and Sneaker Culture-From a Woman’s perspective.
4 年This!!!!! Love it!!!!!