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Our NewsDepth A Plus Award this week goes to a high schooler whose artistic and athletic skills have helped him launch a successful business.
Fairless High School senior Jory Oakleaf designs cleats for athletes through his business, J’s Custom Kicks. He started his shop after he learned how to restore sneakers. He realized he wanted to start customizing his own shoes.
He submitted a sneaker design in a contest on Instagram, and placed high. His shoe designs caught the attention of Detroit Lions players who were looking for artistic cleats.
C.J. Moore and Dee Virgin, two defensive backs for the Lions, asked him to design camouflage cleats for them.
Jory watched the Lions play in the NFL Thanksgiving Day game, and to his excitement, both players were wearing his shoes!
Jory also designs shoes for basketball, track and baseball. Customers send him the shoe and design they would like, and he uses an airbrush technique to make the customer’s vision come to life.
Jory says his favorite part of running J’s Custom Kicks is all the new people he’s gotten to work with and meet from all across the country.
He plans to go to college for business and take some art courses, and hopes to eventually make a career out of his shop.
Way to go, Jory! We’re excited to award you this week’s NewsDepth A Plus.