The FIRST JEM
JEMS by PENSOLE’s inaugural shoe was handcrafted at JEMS in New Hampshire, the first Black-owned athletic footwear factory in the US. The design is a tribute to JEMS namesake, Jan Ernst Matzeliger, a Black Dutch immigrant who in 1883 patented a lasting machine technology still used in footwear manufacturing today. Designed by JEMS founder, the legendary Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, the fine detail on the premium leather sneaker is an homage to Jan’s life.
- Handcrafted in the USA
- Premium leather upper
- Tonal screen-printed wording honors Jan’s life
- Technical drawing of Matzeliger’s invention is featured on the sockliner
- Red, white, and blue represent flags of both the US and Suriname of the 1800s, Jan’s country of origin
- Lace-locking crosshatch eyelets
- Red and blue ombre laces are tipped with copper aglets
- Leather tab on the tongue of the left shoe identifies the series; leather tab on the right identifies the size
- Leather tab on the heel of the right shoe indicates where the pair was handcrafted; leather tab on the heel of the left shoe denotes the shoe’s designer
- Designed by Dr. D’Wayne Edwards
MEET THE DESIGNER
With no formal education, Dr. D’Wayne Edwards has been designing sneakers for over 30 years for some of the world’s largest brands. All the while, Dr. Edwards felt a calling to make his mark on the footwear industry not just in the sneakers he designs, but in helping to create greater opportunity for future industry gems. With Pensole Lewis College Dr. Edwards has reimagined and reinvented the education system, providing a unique educational experience; teaching students skills to thrive in the product creation industry. He founded JEMS, the first Black-owned athletic footwear factory in the US, in 2022 with the vision to empower the next generation of creatives by offering greater accessibility to manufacture their own brand, ultimately leaving the industry a better, more diverse place.