SNEAKER ESSENTIALS COURSE
Fashion Institute of Technology faculty, together with leaders from Complex and across the sneaker world, will teach you about the key areas, and related career opportunities in the ever-evolving sneaker industry through Yellowbrick’s sneaker essentials course.
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100% Online Certificate
Instructors and Industry Experts
Joe La puma
Host Sneaker Shopping, svp content strategy Complex media 
Jeron Smith
Co-Founder, HEIR 
Chris "Coseezy" Strachan
Founder and CEO, Kick’nit 
Brendan Dunne
General Manager, Sole Collector 
Kenneth Anand
Author, Professor, and Co-Creator, Sneaker Law 
Den Ly
Footwear Designer, Cole Haan and FIT Instructor 
Sarah Mullins
Accessories Design Chair, FIT 
Nick DePaula
NBA Features Writer, ESPN 
Jared Goldstein
Author, Professor, and Co-Creator, Sneaker Law 
Richard "Maze" Lopez
Director of Brand Strategy, Bleacher Report 
Gregg Woodcock
Adjunct Instructor, Accessories Design, FIT 
Susan Boyle
Owner, Rime Sneaker Boutique 
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PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Learn The Business
Get insider access to key areas of the industry with 45+ on-demand video lessons, and build real-world skills through self-paced projects and simulations.
Map Your Career
Learn about all the various career paths in the sneaker world, and get first-hand tips and advice on how to achieve your goals from the biggest names in the business.
Boost Your Cred
Earn a Certificate of Achievement in Sneaker Essentials from the world-renowned FIT to add to your profile.
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curriculum
Explore the history of sneakers – from performance, to fashion, to self-expression – and the evolution of sneaker culture.
Gain an understanding of design considerations including the design brief, color, materials, parts and lasts, sketching and drafting, tech packs, and prototyping.
Go inside the factory to see how sneakers are made and learn about key steps like pattern making, upper assembly, outsole application, and production.
Learn about the ways a sneaker gets to market through exploration of trade shows, traditional and non-traditional retail, boutiques, select release dates and drop strategy, and conventions.
Dive into marketing strategy with modules on brand strategy, creating a brand story, marketing tactics, digital apps and web marketing, endorsements, collaborations, and more.
The experts from Complex lead instruction on sneaker media, social and video strategy, game changers in sneaker media history, and teach you how to create your own media.
Sneaker Law co-creators, Kenneth Anand and Jared Goldstein, guide you on how to get your sneaker business off the ground. Learn about company structures, intellectual property, how to protect your brand, and what you need to consider when making a sneaker deal.
Level up. On YOUR schedule.
The program includes 7 online course modules, and related skill-building activities. Each module is 3-5 hours, and is broken into several shorter lessons that students complete at their own pace. Students earn a non-credit certificate of completion from FIT.
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Student Feedback
Since taking Sneaker Essentials, I left an industry I wasn't passionate about, and it motivated me to get a job in sneakers, and now I'm working at Footlocker HQ.
Byron JohnsonSneaker essentials grad 
I enjoyed the course extremely, and it honestly helped me land my new job at the New Balance headquarters. I'm living my dream!
Kevin TrotmanSneaker Essentials Grad 
I would say to my friend that this course is something you will not regret. If you even have a slight passion for sneakers I believe this is the right course for you. It is different and very informative and the way the information is presented by different instructors prevents the course from becoming stagnant which is an added bonus to any course.
Timothy RattanSneaker essentials grad 
I took the course when I learned I just got accepted for an Internship in Footwear Product Management for adidas Originals. The course truly helped me to enter the Industry better prepared and aware of what creating a product entails.
Mathilde GarnierSneaker essentials grad
I have been able to get more interviews with fashion companies and sneaker companies.
TiffanySneaker essentials grad
The design your own boutique course made me stretch myself in ways I have never done. Coming up with a building layout, figuring out how to get a logo, coming up with my mission; it all showed me how hard these store owners actually work to give consumers a great experience. The average person would never know this had it not been for this course. I now have a whole portfolio to open up my own store if I wanted too.
Tierra RichSneaker essentials grad
My perspective on combining business and art has shifted. I'm more confident in business and more focused on monetizing my creativity.
Dellian Sharp IISneaker essentials grad
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