5 Black Creatives Leaving Their Footprint in Footwear
In honor of Black History Month, Hypebae celebrates five footwear forces challenging the status quo by focussing on community, culture and childhood memories.
In every lane, Black creatives carve their own path forward – fueled by the steadfast support of their community, a deep-rooted desire to drive their culture forward and a true calling to bring their artistic visions to life. In honor of Black History Month, Hypebae is shining light on Black creatives from fashion, footwear, beauty and sports who are making waves in their prospective industries.
For five Black creatives changing the status quo of the style scene, namely in footwear, there’s more to their vision than meets the eye. Over time, they’ve translated their connections to their culture, meaningful childhood memories and commitment to their communities into creative contributions that leave a lasting impact for future generations to follow.
Some, like lifelong sneaker lover Jae Tips, nod to nostalgia with highly-coveted collaborations with Saucony, that speak to his time at the iconic NikeLab store in SoHo before his breakthrough in the sneaker scene. Others, such as Sophia Hyancinthe of Shoe Slutz or Yuri Carter of Yuri’s Market – founders of two top online vintage stores – ignite their inner child by building celebrity-loved businesses out of childhood-cultivated passions.
Bronx-born and raised Hyancinthe harnessed her love for sourcing luxury shoes with visits to bespoke West Village boutiques as an adolescent while Chicago-native Carter caught the vintage bug at age 10 after being introduced to archival fashion by her mother. For the two of them, their love for fashion and footwear runs deep. The same can be said of The Ekhator Label founder Trisha Ekhator, too.
With each delicately designed piece – from the famed Lottie Heels to the Zoraobi and Lola heels – Ekhator pens a love letter to her Nigerian heritage and bridges the gap between past and present trends. Inspired by the woven baskets found in local Nigerian marketplaces, the Lottie Heels transport Ekhator back to the place that transformed her into the woman she is today. Meanwhile, the Zoraobi Heels take creative cues from the coiled design of old-school telephone cords, and the Lola Heels serve as a sweet reminder of the ruffle socks she wore as a child.
The New York-based designer is not alone in honoring her cultural identity through her creative craft. Weleh Dennis, co-founder of Kids of Immigrants – the brand behind one of 2024’s biggest sneaker drops, the Nike x Kids of Immigrants Air Max Sunder – also approaches style through a storytelling lens. Championing his upbringing as the child of immigrants through intentional design details, including longitude and latitude lines, the highly-sought after sneaker connects communities of first-generation children worldwide.
Each of these five creatives have left their footprints in the footwear space and in an intimate conversation with Hypebae, they speak on the stories behind their beginnings that paved the way for their futures.
Continue scrolling below for the full conversations and join us every Wednesday this month to discover the journey of five new innovative individuals shaking up the creative scene.
On preserving their creative integrity and cultural identity
Jae Tips
Jae Tips
With every project, many people are discovering me for the first time, which is something I kept in mind from the very start while shaping my ideas. That pressure of making a strong first impression pushes me to keep my creativity fresh. I love weaving hidden connections between my releases, leaving subtle Easter eggs that tie them all together. It’s the story within the story that keeps me inspired.
Trisha Ekhator – The Ekhator Label
Trisha E
I try to show the influence of my culture through the designs, which speak beyond the aesthetic. The appeal came naturally, as people were drawn to the many details that were pieces of my experience. Through each piece, a symbol of my roots is created, leading people to explore their unique, eccentric expression, fostering a strong connection.
On breaking into niche spaces as a Black creative
Yuri’s Carter – Yuri’s Market
Yuri Carter
Navigating a niche business like Yuri’s Market —vintage designer resale—comes with unique challenges, especially as a Black woman in an industry that has traditionally been gatekept. There’s a lot of exclusivity in high-end fashion, particularly in sourcing and wholesaling vintage designer pieces. The market is often controlled by insiders who have built networks over decades, making it difficult to break in without the right connections. Also securing capital and funding is always difficult for a Black woman like me.
Sophia Hyacinthe – Shoe Slutz
Sophia Hyancinthe
Saturation in the resale market along with larger companies like Jeffrey Campbell and Azalea Wang that are now making dupes of vintage shoe styles can be considered a difficulty. This motivates me to continue to dig deep, discover new designers and rare styles and engage with my community in ways they do not.
On using style as a form of storytelling
Weleh Dennis – Kids of Immigrants
Weleh Dennis
When I decided to go to art school in San Francisco, I learned how to design clothes. I felt like clothing was a powerful vessel for telling stories and creating characters. That’s when I knew I wanted to merge storytelling with style. My story is just like every “Kid of an Immigrant” story. Instead of feeling different, I wanted to feel connected. I had friends from all over the world, and I found myself relating to their ways of living, which felt no different from my own. It’s not about sharing my story—it’s about showing that when everyone has the ability to share theirs, we can all find similarities in our growth, experiences, failures, and successes. Our journeys are individual yet collective in nature.
Trisha Ekhator – The Ekhator Label
The Ekhator Label
My Nigerian culture is dear to my heart because I was born and raised there. All my childhood memories have brought me all of my ideas. Throughout this journey, one thing I knew I wanted to do was to stick to my roots. It’s a sentiment of me giving back to what made me who I am today and allows me to share my story in a way that goes beyond fashion.
On their most empowering moment as a Black entrepreneur
Sophia Hyacinthe – Shoe Slutz
Sophia Hyacinthe
My first solo NYFW Pop up. From everyone that assisted in the production to everyone that came out to support. The joy of meeting my longtime clients to having fashion influencers like Saudiah B., Brianna Wilson of the Matte Brand casually strolling in with a mob of it girls to Aleali May to cultural icons like Venus X and world renowned celebrity stylist Law Roach. It was empowering to see my community show up and support me.
Weleh Dennis – Kids of Immigrants
Weleh Dennis
The most empowering moment [for me] has been having the opportunity to tell someone — whether it’s a kid or anyone — that they can do it too. I did it, and so can they. You just have to work hard, stay focused, and make sure you’re pursuing your passion.
On the most standout shoe they’ve ever sourced
Sophia Hyacinthe – Shoe Slutz
It would have to be the first pair of El Dantes boots I sourced in 2022. At the time, most resellers were only selling archive pieces from well known designers. I [had never seen anything] like [those] boots. I loved how niche they were and trusted my instinct and bought them. Needless to say, they sold seconds after I posted them. These boots helped put my brand on the map and helped form my brand identity. This fueled my mission to continue to go left, shining light on gone but not forgotten brands like Gianmarco Lorenzi and more.
Yuri Carter – Yuri’s Market
It will always be the 2009 Margiela Cinderella heels. That piece is such an iconic part of fashion history and being able to source it for [rapper JT formerly of the City Girls] for her first big project as a solo artist was incredible. JT truly understands the importance of building an archive and the significance of these pieces.
On the moment they realized their creative vision was bigger than any obstacle
Weleh Dennis – Kids of Immigrants
Weleh Dennis
If you’re truly passionate about something, the passion overrides any doubt or fear. To me, if you don’t do something because you’re afraid of it, it means you’re not meant to do it. Fear is the mind killer, and the only way to overcome it is to commit and learn the lessons that come from doing. When you focus on your creative vision, the doubt and fear dissipate—they just go away.
Jae Tips
Jae Tips
I came to realize that my biggest obstacle was myself. Once I learned [how] to tune out the noise and set realistic expectations, I started stepping fully into my purpose. I’m a deeply nostalgic person, and when I create, I tap into the moments that brought me peace and happiness. One of those was spending time at the old Nike Lab 21 Mercer Store. Being around the Bespoke Studio taught me how to translate memories into materials and fabrics. I was lucky enough to sit in on some of DJ Clark Kent’s appointments and watch his process firsthand—it played a huge role in shaping my own approach.
Trisha Ekhator – The Ekhator Label
Trisha E
When I saw how the Lottie Heels had created a community and how much they were embraced, I realized that this was bigger than me. Witnessing its growth proved to me that through consistency, faith, and audacity, limits are only a facade.
On the legacy they aim to leave behind
Jae Tips
Jae Tips
I believe my purpose as a Black creative goes beyond trophies and accolades—it’s about paving the way for others. As much as the recognition means to me, what matters more is showing people that it’s possible. Coming from the neighborhood I grew up in, the schools I attended and being mostly self-taught as a designer, I want my journey to be proof that there’s a path forward, no matter where you start because in this industry, nothing lasts forever. When it’s all said and done, I just want people to remember that even when the odds are stacked against you and the cards aren’t in your favor, hard work does get rewarded.
Yuri’s Carter – Yuri’s Market
Yuri Carter
If I had to define the legacy I want for Yuri’s Market, it would be about ownership, accessibility, and cultural preservation —making sure Black creatives aren’t just consumers in the luxury vintage space but key players shaping the industry. It’s also about education and empowerment, giving others the tools to source, curate, and build sustainable fashion businesses.
