You’ve Got Talent and It Deserves a Spotlight.

A Network Built With Intention

As I was reaching for resources and mentorship to manage my own career challenges as a black woman in the footwear industry it became apparent that it was not easily accessible and a framework was not readily available.

After learning that BIWOC represent less than 5% of the footwear industry workforce my life purpose transformed to shifting that narrative and building

The Sole Network

As a member of the Empower Her Sole Community you will have the opportunity to showcase your expertise which will allow for connection and collaboration with other BIWOC that are willing and ready to lift each other up through reverse mentorship and sponsorship.

Sole Spotlight Profiles

The collection of personalized profiles will serve as a directory categorized by state and area of expertise so we collectively can get an understand the diverse talent that BIWOC provide to the Footwear Industry.

If You Are Interested In Helping Us To Achieve Our Goal of an Expansive Directory Please Complete The Sole Spotlight Questionnaire Below

Krystal Gonzalez

  • AAS Fashion Design

  • New York

  • Footwear Design

    • Creative Direction

    • Linebuilding

    • Product Development

    • Raw Materials

  • I knew I wanted to work in fashion from the time I was old enough to speak. At first I envisioned a career for myself designing clothes since I had been sewing since I was 8 years old but that changed once I entered college.

  • One of my first college course assignments was to design a shoe inspired by a famous period of art. For that assignment I created a black peep toe heel with a silver, curved hollow wedge inspired by the clean simple lines of a chair from the Bauhaus period. After acing that assignment my fate as a footwear designer was sealed.

  • I was interviewed by Morgan Smith for CNBC’s Make it Series in 2023 where I was given the opportunity to discuss how I made 6 figures as a footwear designer without a bachelors degree.

  • The first sketch I can remember vividly drawing was inspired by TLC. Their vibrant, rebellious baggy clothes and exaggerated platform shoes sparked my ideation process instantly anytime I saw them on TV. Their tomboy aesthetic and girls can do it too if not better attitude was a tremendous source of inspiration as a young girl. Their music and style made me feel like I could do anything I put my mind to as long as I kept true to myself.

  • Music influences my design process. My design aesthetic is ever changing and depends on the customer and consumer I am targeting. If the assignment is to draw a sneaker I’m listening to hip hop to make sure that flows out of me as I draw.

  • While my personal drive has consistently guided me through systemic challenges, I am still amazed I secured a job in my field immediately after graduation in the midst of the 2008 Great Recession. Balancing my aspirations of building my career and the burden of paying off significant debt from student loans lit a fire in me and there was no room for failure. This drive ultimately granted me a seat at the table in corporate spaces that were not used to having a woman of color there. Once navigating corporate and the constant burden of being the only became overwhelming I leaned into community and joined the Black Footwear Forum. It is there where I found that all the challenges I had overcome just propelled me towards my true life purpose of being a mentor to the woman coming up behind me.

  • I’m constantly learning and attend multiple conferences, tradeshows and networking events yearly where I connect and learn from experts to further my knowledge of the footwear industry.