Pistons and Pensole Lewis College Host MARTK’D ‘Art on Sneakers’ Invitational

By Amber Ogden, Contributing Writer The Pistons and Pensole Lewis College recently hosted the MARTK’D “Art on Sneaker” Invitational, a Detroit-based student sneaker design competition. The event was lively, with many eager onlookers, including proud family members, passionate sneakerheads, and discerning judges. The competition featured 10 Detroit-area student contestants, each competing to have their design produced by Reebok and sold at a local sneaker boutique. Only three winners and an honorable mention emerged victorious. Kristal Soto’s shoe design won first place in the competition, where she artfully showcased her Puerto Rican heritage. Her design was a beautiful portrayal of her culture, leaving a lasting impression on the judges. “I feel like you go through ups and downs; it was really hard making the design for this shoe. I didn’t know it would be like this, but I’m glad I made it,” Soto said. Mekhia Knighten’s presentation stood out during the competition. She shared a captivating story about Misty Copeland, a trailblazing Black ballerina, who inspired her to design a unique pair of shoes. She also shared that she is a ballerina and has danced with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Mekhia also delved into the history of the Atlantic...