Bigger Than Tennis is all about culture.

Its co-founder Matt Tomamichel recently began cooperation with a footwear and clothing brand EQLZ in the colours of the new Bigger Than Tennis x EQLZ 247 “North Star” basketball shoes. Unlike last yr’s collaboration with Jordan Brand, the sneakers were designed by academy students.

There are sneakers sold online at Corporate Got Em for $180 and a part of the proceeds will go to BTS Academy.

The BTS Academy is a free, three-week summer session for 14 highschool students. They receive roughly 60 hours of programming. This yr’s session focused on branding, marketing, materials, apparel and footwear design. As a part of the ultimate project, students collaborated to create their very own brands. Each day they focused on different topics and listened to guest lecturers who work in the sector.

Founded in 2018, EQLZ has established itself within the performance footwear segment. When creating the most recent 247 model, the corporate wanted to create basketball shoes that will be an extension of the human foot. In particular, the design team includes several industry veterans Aaron Cooperwho, during his 25 years at Nike, designed distinctive basketball shoes for basketball stars LeBron James, Scottie Pippen, Kevin Garnett and others.

Tomamichel first connected with Cooper on Instagram a few years ago. “I showed him respect and told him what I was doing here, and he really liked it,” Tomamichel said. “(Cooper) basically gave us every chance. He said, “I believe in you, I trust you, where you are going.” The design legend spent a while in Cincinnati before asking Tomamichel if the academy wanted to produce the shoe.

“Of course I do,” Tomamichel said. “We didn’t plan it (this way), but yes, let’s do it.”

In an email to Andscape, Cooper said programs like Bigger Than Tennis are “extremely important” to the following generation of footwear professionals. He believes that children need more equal opportunities and tries to help wherever he can.

In June, the designer brought a white version of the sneakers to the academy. After the lecture, he tasked the scholars with creating a story and color scheme. “It was a hands-on job for Cooper,” Tomamichel said. “He came in, taught it, and the kids just took it in.”

Cooper said multiple teams of scholars worked together to present their ideas, and at the tip everyone voted on the one they felt most spoke to their needs.

As a part of the design process, students also had to persuade all the class that their design was possible. “If they still had any questions or needed help after a thorough Google search, I was there to help them and provide answers,” Cooper said. Because he mentioned the “North Star” several times during his presentation, students expanded on this concept, identifying the shoe’s name as a tenet to help align with what “really matters to you.”

Kevin Watkins and Briana Davis

Bigger Than x EQLZ 247 “North Star” shoes.

Kevin Watkins and Briana Davis

The shades of purple used on the shoe are intended to refer to the night sky.

Kevin Watkins and Briana Davis

The EQLZ 247 “North Star” sneaker features Co-branding on the heel strap. The sparkles on the shoe’s outsole symbolize the celebrities, while the blue and pink additions represent the gases within the sky.

The Bigger Than Tennis x EQLZ 247s “North Star” is black with shades of purple to represent the night sky. Sparkles on the shoe’s outsole symbolize stars, while blue and pink were added to represent gases within the sky.

When the scholars showed Tomamichel what they’d, he was impressed. After the pitch, Cooper began his development phase. “He basically designs everything in the shoe,” Tomamichel said. “He knew what would work and what wouldn’t work, and then he put it together.”

Quinn Smith, a student on the academy, said selecting colours to convey the message was a difficult a part of the design process. “(We wanted) to make sure that the message could be interpreted without having to say too much or that there wasn’t too much to say,” she said.

Another student, Chase Harpold, shares her sentiment. “It was difficult to translate everyone’s ideas into sneakers and create an easy-to-wear and cohesive color that clearly represented our story.” Harpold said he knew the project was complete when “everyone agreed it was the best final product we could design.”

Samiya Oyeyemi, who worked with Smith and Harpold, found the colour palette easy. The real challenge was constructing the shoe. “We had so many different ideas and inspirations and we all wanted to put an aspect of our beliefs into the shoe,” she said.

All three agreed that the ultimate product closely reflected their initial design goals. Smith said their success is just not just a victory for the academy, “but for people all over the world.” Oyeyemi found that the efforts of designing a shoe paled as compared to working with her peers. “Even when we had moments where we struggled to come up with the concept of the shoe, we had a great time working as a team and designing it,” she said.

Cooper understands the ability of sneaker design. “I was inspired to become Nike’s first intern in 1994 because I also believe it is bigger than sneakers,” he said. “I have seen how shoes inspire communities to come together, share stories and break down barriers.”

The feedback from students and the opportunities it has created are a large a part of why Tomamichel founded Bigger Than Tennis. As an adopted person, he considers himself very lucky to have family and friends. His tenet is to support others and provides back to society.

“I want people to feel that their dreams can come true,” he said. “They haven’t got to live within the shadows and say, ‘Man, I’ve all the time wanted to do that, but I’ve never done it.’ I prefer to encourage quite than tell someone they shouldn’t do something. I’ve heard way an excessive amount of about it.”

Executive director Natalie Morean said each student can only attend the academy once, but she supports children after they complete this system. Former students return as peer mentors for current students, and the academy provides other volunteer opportunities all year long.

“We don’t want to spend three weeks with you and then push you out the door,” Morean said. “We want to consciously decide how we create relationships with students.”

Bigger Than Tennis is a nonprofit organization that relies on fundraising, corporate sponsorships and grants. Morean said the cash goes primarily to students. The organization feeds them on daily basis, takes them on field trips and offers them an iPad that they will keep after the three-week session.

The BTS Academy is positioned in Cincinnati, with plans to expand to Indianapolis and Dayton, Ohio. Tomamichela The corporation has themfootwear and clothing boutique, has locations in all three cities.

Morean wants “sustainable and intentional growth,” but believes they’ll proceed to limit the number of scholars to about 14. “I think it’s a really good choice,” she said. “It’s still a small enough place where you can get to know all the students individually… but as we continue to grow, I definitely think the capacity should expand as well.”

Tomamichel praised Morean for Bigger Than Tennis’ progress. “In 2020, I felt like people needed something positive. I started praying that Bigger Than Tennis would have a better structure to make everything work,” he said. “The next week I met Natalie and within two months she was a director.”

Morean, who earned a master’s degree in nonprofit management and leadership from the University of Georgia, has worked with students and youth programs for years. She shared her inspirations with laughter.

“I grew up as the oldest of four children and was always around my younger siblings,” she said. “I just really enjoyed being a big sister, maybe it will make me have a career.”

Media icon Martha Stewart has never shied away from the highlight and controversy. But her ex-husband, Andrew Stewart, clearly hates being within the headlines.

Now, with a recent documentary about Martha’s life on Netflix titled “Martha” premiering on October 30, reports say the chef’s ex is fuming over details of the breakdown of their marriage.

Now recent reports suggest that sources near Andrew, normally a private person, are “furious” that his past relationship with Marta has come to light again, especially after the shocking revelation that she cheated on him as a prankster, as seen within the trailer movie .

The story of Marta and Andrzej began like a scene from a classic romance: they met on a blind date in 1961, got married and were seemingly completely satisfied for years. The Yale college student impressed her along with his yellow Mercedes. They had one daughter, Alexis, born in 1965, and began a family.

“I’ve never driven a Mercedes before. We went out for dinner. He was very polite and personable and traveled widely. It was exciting for me,” Martha explained within the documentary reported by Outbreak.

She described Andrew as a “sophisticated young man” and added that “he had an American Express card, which was very essential in those days. And he was just intriguing, funny and nice. By the tip of dinner, I used to be head over heels in love.

They spent their honeymoon in Europe, where reality began for 19-year-old Marta. She met a handsome man in a cathedral in Florence, Italy, which she described as a “romantic place.”

“It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Vast dome. So beautiful, with pictures all around you” – Marta he statednoting that they were each emotional. “It was like nothing I had ever done before. So why not kiss a stranger?”

Martha continued: “It was neither rude nor unfaithful. It was just emotional at the moment. That’s how I looked at it. It was exciting because it was a very emotional place. I wish we could all experience an evening like this.”

However, her marriage to Andrew eventually broke down, resulting in a separation in 1987 and a final divorce in 1990.

Despite the breakup, Andrew continued his successful publishing profession, currently serving as publisher emeritus at Fieldstone Publishing, a company known for its deal with nature and sustainability.

This is how Andrew would really like his status to be perceived in society. However, the documentary shows the darker side of their relationship.

Martha believed that Andrew had many affairs and several “different girlfriends” during their marriage because “he was unhappy at home”.

In one candid moment within the trailer, he counsels young women about infidelity, stating, “If you’re married and your husband starts cheating on you, that’s a piece of shit. Get out of this marriage.”

Martha’s advice takes on a personal meaning because Andrew allegedly cheated on her with her former assistant, Robyn Fairclough, who was 21 years his junior – a major betrayal that ultimately ended their 29-year marriage.

When asked within the documentary whether she had ever had an affair herself, Martha, America’s first self-made billionaire, didn’t hesitate to reply.

“Yes, but I don’t think Andy ever knew that,” she admitted, before adding one other layer to the complex narrative of their marriage.

Andrew’s response to their story being publicly aired has reportedly been vocal amongst those near him.

Paula Froelich of News Nation Now reports that Andrew and other relations find Martha’s revelations intrusive, claiming he is “furious” at being dragged into her latest chapter.

“Andy’s neighbors and his children say the publisher is furious because he keeps things private and feels he has been dragged into the drama again,” Froelich wrote.

Who is Martha Stewart’s ex-husband, Andrew Stewart? He remarried – https://t.co/Th02hxDBpI October 14, 2024 pic.twitter.com/I6nd8lPzfY

— 24ssports.com (@huynh581538) October 15, 2024

Part of the issue is that Martha continues to speak concerning the failed relationship and how mean he was in the wedding.

In a 2008 interview, she described Andrew as “creepy” and went up to now as to call him “a dick in so many ways” because of his behavior towards her, each emotionally and financially.

These comments only add fuel to the hearth for Andrew, who probably wants his personal life to remain just that – personal.

After breaking up with Marta, Andrzej remarried, although this marriage also resulted in divorce.

He is currently married to Shyla Nelson Stewart, current president and CEO of Fieldstone Publishing.

As for Marta, she continues to interact in public life with a renewed profession that celebrates her friendship with rapper Snoop Dogg. The “Gin and Juice” star appears to be against anyone who has anything negative to say about her, but she hasn’t spoken publicly about her ex. Still, fans online aren’t completely satisfied with her public reveal.

The #MarthaStewart the documentary is absolutely fascinating. I like Marta very much and I believe she is a pioneer in her industry. Have you watched it?

Read more in last week’s issue of Everything But Bland News. What would you prefer to hear more about this week? EB#news #whateverbuttrivial… pic.twitter.com/WmdatpTJA7

— Eric Bland (@TheEricBland) October 27, 2024

“She must admit that she takes pleasure in humiliating in this way the man she married or abandoned stories” wrote one person on Yahoo.com.

Another person he said“Just say you hate him and you enjoy humiliating him even today.” Meanwhile, a third added: “Should we applaud a woman who cheated on her husband and is now bragging about it? Not simply because she’s a convicted felon. I, for one, am not disgusting that you simply would spend time on her.

Despite Andrew’s disapproval of Dr. Marta, a lot of them gave good reviews.

“The #MarthaStewart documentary is absolutely fascinating. I like Marta very much and I think she is a pioneer in her industry. Have you watched it?” one person wrote on Twitter.

Another said: “I’m glad Andrew’s life has turned out well. Marta fell in love with his Mercedes, American Express card and handsome appearance.”

With “Marta” set to premiere soon, much to his dismay, Andrew’s past relationship with the approach to life queen appears to have gone unburied.

Actress Taraji P. Henson has once more faced backlash over her outfit selections, most recently on the Fashion Trust Arabia event in Marrakech, Morocco.

The actress wore a Zuhair Murad gown while serving as a judge on the FTA 2024 jury, which revealed more skin than some online viewers expected.

Designed by Wayman Deon and Micah McDonald, the gold, sequined, sheer gown featured a draped neckline, strong shoulders and showed off the 54-year-old’s cleavage within the photos published via WWD.

The dress was a part of Murad’s spring 2024 couture collection, but some fans on social media felt it might have been more age-appropriate.

Taraji P. Henson favors dramatic necklines in a Zuhair Murad gown, Alessandra Ambrosio shines in a ‘deceptively easy’ Balmain dress and more at Fashion Trust Arabia 2024 https://t.co/Udt1s4Y4e8

— WWD (@wwd) October 25, 2024

“Taraji is a bit overexposed, too much Dad,” one person said he wrote in Lipstick Alley in response to Henson’s photos with Life Support actor Evan Ross and Jodi Turner-Smith.

Another said: “Jodi looks good. Taraji looks a large number as usual.Meanwhile, the third one as well as“No, she’s too elegant for that” on Instagram.

But not everyone didn’t just like the photos that complimented Henson. Two wrote: “Taraji’s cleavage is delicious!” And “Their task is Taraji.

This is not the primary time the “Baby Boy” star has faced backlash for dressing extremely risqué. While promoting her new miniseries “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist”, she wore very provocative outfits on many red carpets and promotional events.

At the September 4 premiere, Henson wore an outfit that made her fans look at her again.

For the New York premiere, she appeared in a white Retrofête mini dress embellished with silver sequins, revealing the middle of the plunging neckline and, when viewed from the side, revealing the side boob. The 54-year-old artist even admitted that the dress was a bit risqué, joking with E! News: “I don’t want things to come out.”

Days later, fans commented on her appearance, some calling it unflattering.

“We have to be honest, it’s not flattering,” one person wrote in an Instagram post on September 9.

Another commented: “Girl, you need to fire your stylist! He or she is a hidden hater. You are an Oscar-nominated actress, a movie star! NOT some video hungry girl/groupie.”

Even on October 8, when Henson attended the 2024 Glamor Women of the Year Awards, she wore a velvet two-piece gown with a high collar and a cutout just above the chest, which made people wonder why she selected to point out a lot skin.

Taraji p Henson looks spectacular on the Glamor Women of the Year gala. She says she selected faith over fear in pursuing her dreams.

She said that every role she selected terrified her greatly, but she decided to take the challenge and transform. pic.twitter.com/wNSbwtS0fd

— lilia (@lily650nj) October 9, 2024

The daring selection was met with mixed reviews, with some saying it was unrecognizable. When “Good Morning America” ​​posted a video of her appearance, one person wrote, “This looks nothing like her.”

This season’s important theme appears to be cutting-edge fashion. Although she faced criticism, not everyone thought she was giving a poor assessment of free trade agreements. When the Washington, D.C., native posted her gold look on Instagram, a lot of her 21.8 million followers praised her style.

Her signature To read“SO MUCH FUUUUNNN!!!! Very inspiring. Congratulations to all the amazing new designers. #RP @tarajiphenson wore a fashionable long-sleeved gold embroidered dress with a plunging neckline to the Fashion Trust Arabia Awards 2024 in Marrakech.”

One comment read: “YOU ALREADY KNOW YOU ATE IT,” while one other joked: “Location? On God’s necks.

A 3rd added: “You are absolutely stunning and gorgeous, Queen Taraji,” while another person commented: “Too SEXY, PROVOCACY AND SALFISH, U GO GURL!! Work!!

Despite this chatter, Taraji stays unfazed and makes daring fashion selections that reflect her self-confidence and individuality. Known for pushing boundaries each on and off screen, the “Hidden Figures” star proves she’s not here to suit anyone else’s mold.