Rooted in commUNITY
Sneaker culture has always been bigger than sneakers.
Music, sports, fashion, entrepreneurship, and Black creativity have helped turn footwear into a global cultural force. This September, the people behind that influence — and the next generation preparing to take it further — will come together in Detroit.
The seventh annual Black Footwear Forum (BFF) returns Sept. 10-13 to PLC Detroit, bringing together more than 1,000 creatives, students, executives, and industry leaders for conversations, masterclasses, professional development, networking, and brand activations.
Presented by Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC Detroit) in partnership with the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), BFF takes place at Michigan’s only HBCU and the nation’s only design-focused HBCU. Known as “The Industry’s Homecoming,” the forum returns during Detroit Month of Design under the 2026 theme, “Rooted in commUNITY.”
“For seven years, the Black Footwear Forum has created a space where Black and Brown creatives can see themselves, connect, and have direct access to the people and brands shaping the industry,” said Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, president of PLC Detroit. “This year’s theme, ‘Rooted in commUNITY,’ speaks to what has always made BFF special. We’re bringing creative minds together to share knowledge, build relationships, and make sure the next generation doesn’t just enter the industry—they are prepared to lead it.”
DMC, Colin Kaepernick and Jemele Hill Take the Stage
Hosted by Jacques Slade, BFF will bring together voices from footwear, sports, entertainment, business and culture.
One of Saturday’s most anticipated conversations happens at 10:15 a.m., when DMC of the iconic hip-hop group Run-DMC sits down with Edwards for a one-on-one conversation about his career, cultural influence, and enduring impact on music, footwear, and creativity.
The pairing connects two different sides of sneaker history. Run-DMC helped cement the relationship between hip-hop and footwear culture, while Edwards has spent his career designing footwear within the industry and creating opportunities for the creatives coming behind him.
Later Saturday, Colin Kaepernick will join Detroit native and award-winning journalist Jemele Hill for “The Perilous Fight.” The 5 p.m. conversation will center on Kaepernick’s memoir of the same name, scheduled for publication Sept. 15.
The weekend’s lineup also includes fashion icons April Walker, Maurice Malone, Shaka Senghor, Wilson Smith, Jae Tips, Dr. George James, Domonique Broadway, Jessica Rose, and other voices across footwear, business, and culture.
Programming will explore women in commUNITY, wellness, artificial intelligence, sports, retail, and community building.
Black Creativity Is Part of the Business
BFF is about more than recognizing Black influence on sneaker culture. It is about creating access to the industry itself.
Students and emerging creatives will be in the same environment as established designers, executives, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, creating opportunities to build relationships and gain insight from people already working across the business.
That connection between emerging talent and industry leadership remains central to BFF’s mission.
“The Black Footwear Forum has grown into a national platform that brings talent, leadership, and opportunity together,” said Matt Priest, president and CEO of FDRA. “Black creativity has had an undeniable influence on footwear and the culture surrounding it, and BFF ensures those voices are part of the conversations shaping where our industry goes next.”
Detroit, Legacy and BLACKLIGHTS
BFF will also introduce BLACKLIGHTS Homecoming on Sept. 11.
The new PLC Detroit tradition will bring together PLC Detroit alumni, Lewis College of Business graduates, current students, Pensole Academy graduates, faculty, and staff at Cred Café.
Hosted by current students, BLACKLIGHTS will feature an alumni roll call, class-year recognition, a Legacy Wall, “The Sole Walk” footwear-inspired runway experience, and a ceremonial class handoff.
The forum will also feature Look Again at MI Black Eden, a two-day immersive cultural experience sponsored by Merrell and created by PLC Detroit with the Idlewild community.
The activation brings the history and culture of Idlewild, Michigan—historically known as Black Eden—to Detroit through community storytelling, a recreation of the historic Morton’s Motel porch, elements inspired by Black Eden Brews Coffee Bar, and a Merrell-powered Idlewild Heritage Trail highlighting 25 historic locations.
BFF Goes Beyond the Sneaker
BFF closes Sept. 13 with programming focused on connection, wealth, wellness, and personal development.
The Sisters in Sole Brunch will feature networking, Rising Star Awards, and a conversation about building lasting wealth with Domonique Broadway and Jessica Rose.
The BRO: Give Your Permission Workshop, led by Dr. George James, will encourage participants to reflect on self-care, purpose, and caring for themselves while caring for others.
Across four days, BFF will bring together the many worlds that have made footwear what it is today: design, business, retail, music, sports, fashion, and culture.
Black creativity has long influenced what the world wears. In Detroit, BFF is creating a place for that influence to translate into relationships, access, and opportunities to help shape what comes next.
The seventh annual Black Footwear Forum takes place Sept. 10-13 at PLC Detroit, 200 Walker St., Detroit.
Registration is available at BlackFootwearForum.com.
