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Jazerai Allen-Lord's passion for sneaker culture shines in her barrier-breaking work for companies like Reebok and New Balance.
If you copped a pair of the Club C sneakers that Reebok released last year as part of the company's "It's A Man's World" campaign, you have Jazerai Allen-Lord to thank for her fresh take on a classic shoe. As one of the few Black women making their mark on sneakerhead culture, Allen-Lord has become a vocal champion for transforming the community into a more inclusive space for creativity to flourish. Through her company, True to Size, Allen-Lord has worked with shoe companies like New Balance and Reebok to strategize and tell stories that help inspire marginalized communities and honor the legacies of those who have come before us. In an interview with Coveteur, Allen-Lord said that she doesn't want her work and other attempts to prioritize the contributions of women in the sneaker industry to be seen as "disruptive." Instead, she wants to see more people listening to what women have been saying about their experiences and going from there. "People are going to judge you regardless of who you show up as, so you might as well be yourself," she said. "If we aren't showing up and showing out for us, who else will?"