Houston native and longtime sneakerhead Jennifer Ford tapped into that very same dedication and pride when she created Premium Goods, the nation’s first Black woman-owned sneaker boutique, which was handed right down to her by her brother while he spent hours working on his car within the driveway.

While her brother tinkered around their house, Ford got a glimpse of Houston’s car culture. In the remaining of her neighborhood, she discovered car club meetings organized by different generations. Unbeknownst to Ford, she had built considered one of the primary independent sneaker boutiques in Texas in 2004 and had recently created the PG x Adidas Campus ’00 sneaker as an ode to Houston’s car culture and car clubs.

“It’s a group of people with a common love who can come together in a safe space and talk about things they enjoy, while also gaining guidance and helping others. We feel like this happens a lot in our store,” Ford said. “Our team is really informed about previous and new products, so they advise people. I feel like car clubs do the same thing.”

This edition of the Campus ’00 silhouette includes a hidden pocket that mimics a glove compartment and a cracked leather upper that reflects the imperfections of life and cars.

The Premium Goods team also desired to be sure that the colour red was the most important theme of this collaboration. According to the brand’s creative director, Joseph Kare, red is a central element of the Premium Goods brand resulting from its ability to precise boldness and power, and is associated with all of Houston’s major sports teams.

The car culture that is “rooted in the Houston nature,” as Ford likes to say, has followed her from her childhood driveway, to attending car meets in highschool, and now into her home as an adult. Once a month, car enthusiasts gather near Ford’s home for the group’s self-titled event Coffee and cars. The meetings spread throughout Texas and started to be organized commercially in 2004, the identical yr that Ford founded Premium Goods in Houston.

“This shoe represents all of them as a collective and even those who aspire to the automotive world,” Ford said.

For Ford, a very powerful a part of the campaign is its collaboration with the Adidas Cornerstone Community. This initiative helps BIPOC-focused retailers by offering resources for ongoing support, hosting community events, and providing training from industry leaders. In partnership with Cornerstone Community, Premium Goods will donate a percentage of shoe sales to Dekaney High School’s automotive technology program, whose curriculum exposes students to the automotive industry through car care clinics, safety workshops and driver teaching programs.

“These programs aren’t as common in schools these days as they used to be, assuming funding has been removed from them, but this is a great opportunity for youth who don’t necessarily want to go to college but can still find something they really like.” Ford said. “There are many individuals on this country whose careers and lives depend upon the automotive industry, and plenty of of them, unfortunately, cannot go to school, but they create these careers and make a living from them. It’s similar to in America.”

Given Houston’s wealthy history and culture, Ford and Kare’s goal was to not overwhelm themselves by making a shoe that represents every aspect of town; as a substitute, the creative duo desired to pay tribute to the community living within the noisy city.

“Our goal was to create a well-balanced design,” Kare said. “There is a whole lot of intersection between our customers who’re occupied with cars and likewise sneakers. We feel that communities ultimately mirror one another. In a dream world, we might have had many more opportunities to create designs that showcased all the good things about Houston, but we only had one model and we wanted to point out off something that is somewhat underrated.

Ford associates cars with various core memories from adolescence to maturity. She remembers being with her older sister and seeing transport trucks in her neighborhood and MOMO wheels with shiny, colourful lights under the car.

“It was almost like a rite of passage,” Ford said. “I could not wait to be 16 and be cool, but then you definately realize how much money you’ve got, what you truly get and what you’ll be able to do with those limitations. Many people associate memories with cars and the independence that comes with them.

Ford got here from a modest family and knew she would must work for her first car. She did what many other teenagers do and went to the local mall to search for a job. When her grandmother died, she left her a car, which Ford was capable of sell for $600. She saved one other $600 and in 1996 bought a 1984 Honda Accord.

“It was pretty old, but it was fun,” Ford said. “I have a great dad, but he definitely pushes me to study. So if your tire got flat, he wouldn’t replace it for you. He would show me how to replace it, and if something went wrong with my car, he wouldn’t take me to a mechanic to fix it. I would have to go and price it and then he would go and price it and show me the difference in what they would charge men and women.”

Ford’s independence and self-protection evolved into the well-oiled machine that is today’s premium goods. After receiving the decision from Adidas, Ford, Kare and the team met internally and quickly decided that Houston’s car clubs and culture can be their inspiration.

After deciding on the concept, the Premium Goods team met with Adidas again for guidance on material selection. Ford and Kare used their previous experience working with major brands, reminiscent of two Nike Air Force 1 colorways, to assist guide them.

“Because we’ve been in business for 20 years, we’ve seen a lot of shoes come in and out of people’s homes,” Kare said. “We knew we definitely wanted cracked leather and suede because we felt it represented the aging and imperfection that exists in car design. Once we got the first sample, we didn’t have to make many changes.”

As Premium Goods celebrates its twentieth anniversary, Ford and Kare see their customers grow up and return to the boutique with their children. Kare also noted that by watching their clients grow, they’ve the chance to see them evolve as business owners and as people.

The brand was inspired by watching customers undergo subsequent stages of life and develop an interest in styles add a kid’s boutique to his offers.

“We wanted to provide them with an environment where their child could come in and pick out their own shoes and still provide a safe environment for the child,” Ford said. “It’s definitely not a huge money maker, but it’s fun for us to give away gifts and shop for the whole family. Plus, who doesn’t love photos of the whole family with everyone wearing matching sneakers.”

For Ford, it is not nearly selling lifestyle or limited-edition shoes, but greater than that, not taking with no consideration the luxurious of waking up and with the ability to go to work with her friends while making an impact on the community that raised her.

SYDNEY (AP) – Australian tennis player Rachael Gunn told a Sydney radio station she plans to withdraw from competition just three months after her unconventional performance on the Paris Olympics led to her being ridiculed and spawned conspiracy theories about how she qualified to the games.

The now 37-year-old University of Sydney lecturer missed the mark in all three competition rounds in August, performing a routine that included unconventional moves corresponding to a kangaroo jump.

Gunn initially planned to proceed competing, but found it so “upsetting” that she modified her mind.

“I just had no control over how people perceived me and who I was,” she told radio station 2DayFM. “I definitely intended to proceed competing, but it surely seems really difficult now. “I think there will be a level of control, people will film it and it will go on the Internet.”

There was breaking she appeared on the Olympic Games for the primary time. This could also be a one-off event and never included in this system for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games or the 2032 Brisbane, Australia Olympic Games.

“Raygun,” because it was called, got here later ridiculed on social mediawith some posts also questioning the Olympic qualification process.

In a television interview for The Project broadcast in September on Australia’s Channel 10, she talked about it chased by cameras through the streets of Paris and the way she handled the very public response to her performance.

“It was really wild,” she said. “If people are chasing me, what should I do? This really made me panic. I was nervous about performing in public. It was quite tense for a while.”

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She apologized for the confusion, but again defended her performance and she said she was grateful for the support from others involved in the game.

She had defended herself before how she qualified for Parisand repeated it on a TV show.

“I won the Oceania Championship. It was a direct qualifier,” Gunn said. “There were nine judges, all from abroad. As soon as I qualified for the Olympics, I knew my possibilities were slim.

“People didn’t understand the violation and were just angry at my performance,” she added. “The conspiracy theories were just terrible and it was really upsetting. People are now attacking our reputation and our integrity – none of the attacks are based on fact.”

Gunn’s performance was ridiculed on the Internet and on television, including: within the skit re Jimmy Fallon’s late night TV show.

In a Sydney radio interview on Wednesday, Gunn said she wouldn’t completely stop breaking down.

“I’m still dancing and I’m still breaking.” she said. “But it’s like being in my living room with my partner.”

The family of Stephen “tWitch” Boss reunited with the late dancer’s children for the first time since his death almost two years ago.

Tensions rose between his mother, Connie Boss Alexander, and his brother, Dré Rose, and his widow, who was accused of causing their family’s separation.

Allison Holker, mother of tWitch’s three children – adopted daughter Weslie, 16; son Maddox, 8; and youngest daughter, Zaia, 5 – recently faced accusations that she was keeping tWitch’s biological children away from their father’s side of the family, apparently compounding an already painful loss. However, plainly the separation is, in a way, over.

For some time in the public eye, things were really bad between the wife and her husband’s family, which got worse after Holker’s recent online debut about her recent relationship. Holker’s last post on tWitch read: common on Father’s Day in 2024, but has since claimed that “Life is sweet” after the death of her children’s father.

In August 2023, Dré shared a public message about the family conflict, revealing it on Instagram post that despite his efforts to maintain their issues private, he felt compelled to talk out. He suggested that Holker’s approach led to an “atmosphere of alienation” between the children and their grandmother.

“Over recent months, we have observed a number of actions and attitudes that, from our perspective, do not create an environment conducive to healing and unity,” he said, partially, referring to Holker’s treatment of their family. According to reports, the family’s problems stem from a dispute over an NDA that Holker allegedly asked the family to sign, which the family didn’t comply with.

Dré claimed that the terms of the contract unintentionally influenced the “Think You Can Dance” star’s children, who he said were “drawn into the intricacies of adult disputes and effectively weaponized in the process.”

The children’s uncle further expressed his disappointment at the lack of consistent “communication” with the children, claiming that his family had not been included of their activities, and added: “It is depressing that their interaction with their grandmother and wider family has been noticeably limited.”

Although greater than a 12 months has passed since Dré’s post, the situation has apparently improved. When Zaia turned 5, Holker, Rose and Connie posted on Instagram on November 3.

Holker post was endearing: “Today is my daughter ZAIA’S BIRTHDAY! She is 5 years old and 20. I’m very happy with how far she has come. My angel has a heart of gold and the cry of a lion.

Fans flooded her comments with their best wishes. Some said, “She looks a lot like her daddy,” others said, “Nothing beats family.”

However, one follower directly addressed the tensions inside the family, commenting: “Poor baby, her mother DOES NOT let her see her GRANDMOTHER… Stop being a (snake emoji) @allisonholker, let the Twitch kids see HER FAMILY!!!”

Dré posted his own birthday wishes for the toddler with the note ” family photo himself holding Zaia and Maddox in his arms.

“Baby Girl Z, wow, big five already! Time flies and each moment with you is more precious than the last. Your pure and beautiful spirit lights up any room and I am happy to watch you grow into a wonderful young girl,” my uncle said.

“Always keep in mind that your ancestors, including your father, are watching over you with love and protection. Uncle Dee loves you a lot and might’t wait for you to see all the amazing belongings you will do. Shine shiny, my dear.

Many followers expressed support for his sentiments, asking if the photo was recent, and rooting for him to see his niece and nephew.

“Yes. For the first time since December 2022, I have to spend some time,” Dré replied.

Another person added: “It’s great to see them, that’s what your brother would want.”

Connie post it was equally warm for Zaia: “From AZ to California. Happy fifth BIRTHDAY to our beloved little Zaia! How time flies… it’s such a blessing to see you grow.

She added: “With your charming smile and unwavering determination, I can not wait to see what the world has in store for you! I really like you, baby! I do know Daddy is smiling and surrounding you with his loving presence in your special occasion.

However, her supporters didn’t hold back their opinions.

“Happy birthday, sweet girl. Grandma, please honestly when signing your captions you should mention how their mom keeps them/you away from her, the kids will grow up and see your IG page, they need to know that you and your family have tried EVERYTHING to stay in their lives, but their mother selfishly refused!!!” one person wrote.

Another asked: “Are you allowed to send your grandchildren gifts on their birthdays and Christmas?” Grandma didn’t answer this query.

But one person paid attention to the conversation and wrote: “Stephen is alive because of his children…who can never be taken away.”

Tension in the family began after the tragic death of the executive producer/DJ of “The Ellen Degeneres Show,” but it surely is unclear exactly when. When tWitch died by suicide, he didn’t leave a will specifying how his estate or future assets could be divided.

Holker, who also danced in “So You Think You Can Dance,” filed a California spousal estate petition to determine her right to her late husband’s estate. She asked for control of his estate to support their children, including her teenage daughter, whom Boss adopted. This move reportedly didn’t go down well with Boss’s mother, who had different views on access to his property.

The legal decision was made on April 26, 2023, According to to E! News when the California Supreme Court awarded Holker Boss an interest in the couple’s joint estate, which included several assets including Stephen Boss Productions, Inc., his investment account with Goldman Sachs, royalties from Cast and Crew Production Services and Disney Worldwide Services, Inc.

This provided Holker with the financial resources she needed to support her children, even though it doesn’t appear to have fully resolved the tensions inside the family.

Although Holker could have modified his life in some respects, the conflict with Boss’s family continues. Many people hope that for the sake of the children, adults will reconcile in order that the mourning process is not going to be further complicated by constant estrangement.