i had the pleasure of interviewing doctor d wayne edwards, one of the most prominent black designers in the footware industry. He is credited with paving the way for young black design talent to start their careers in the sneaker industry. In 20 ten he founded pensoll in oregon, the first academy in te united states dedicated to footwar design. More than 500 graduates have gone on to design for companies like under armor, aditas, vans and brooks buma.