story

"I'm Chris Gibbs, owner and Creative Director of Union Los Angeles. I'm George Duval, founder of KicknKnowledge, a not-for-profit that teaches sneaker design. And we primarily focus on under-served and under-represented communities".

"When I heard about his programme, I really wanted to share my journey because I thought it would diffuse any kind of intimidation that a young person might have to enter this industry".

"So how we started, my wife suggested that I take some classes at a sneaker design course over 10 years ago. Loved it so much started teaching and sharing the same information that I learnt at my son's school. From there, was asked to teach at other schools …"

" … ended up connecting with some people that I had met at Nike through different events that I was networking and attending and was prompted to start a not-for-profit. From there, we kept growing and expanding and the demand for what we teach …"

" … has just been immense. If you're offering the point of view that you think everybody wants, then you are in the mix with the rest of the world. If you're offering your point of view, it's going to be unique. Sometimes it takes a little longer for that point of view to be …"

" … understood or appreciated, but over time, it's yours. And one of the things I tell my own children is like, all success is hard. There's very few instances where it's easy".

"I know social media and the likes make it look like it's easy, but it's actually really hard. And if you're doing something that you don't believe in and you don't like when it gets hard, it's that much harder. What I've found in my years of being in fashion is …"

"… how to share your point of view becomes really important. And people who do that well become successful regardless of whether they're actually good at designing. If they could actually explain what they want ..."

"… and share what they want in a comprehensive way, that's actually sometimes more important than necessarily being talented. Thus you have me designing shoes because I at least know how to explain myself".

"So I want them to know and be armed with the tools of how to explain what's inside of them and hopefully that'll happen today. So what's next is to continue to impact kids positively, to continue to work in the communities that we work in".

"We hope to continue to foster this relationship that we have with Union, where kids are able to learn from Chris and really get an understanding of design, the fashion industry. I come from ..."

"… the same neighbourhoods that we work in and that drives me. Being able to do something like this with Union is just, it really has left us speechless. And like I said, it's the knowledge that's important. I ..."

"… think that the kids can take what they learn and really become contributing members in the creative fields. I'll just say thanks for everybody's continued support ..."

"… on our Union projects. We really appreciate it and share your story, share your journey. It might seem very myopic that it's only yours and who else would understand you, but you'd be surprised ..."

"… on how many people out there will be inspired and appreciate your story, a kid from Canada, the mixed kid from Canada that immigrated to New York, then left New York to go to LA and ..."

"… who would understand my story and the way I see the world. And I've been blessed and privileged that a lot of people do and a lot of people want to hear it and I want to hear theirs. So just know that your story is important too".

Talking Shop: UNION Part 2 – The Community