I AM CHICAGO BASKETBALL Mag November 2016 | Page 32

KICK GAME
Proper
Coming fresh out of a neighborhood
full of trend setters that stressed
no biting allowed, JRL SNEAKER
SERVICE provides a wide range of
sneaker services including customization and restoration. They can turn
your white on white j’s into sumthin
‘freaky’ with their signature touch.
This South Side company has been
lacing the feet of those in the know for
the last 3 seasons. Pyrex for your feet.
Live and direct we have the CEO of
JRL SNEAKER_SERVICE….My
man Punch.
EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE THAT
DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOUR
SERVICE WHAT YOU CAN DO
TO A GYMSHOE?
PUNCH: My business is restoring
your favorite old shoes. I bring them
back to their original look. I also
custom design gym shoes in various
unusual colors. Whether I’m restoring
a pair of your favorite gym shoes or
making you something fresh and different, I make sure they look like they
just came fresh from the Nike factory.
So if a person sees my work they will
say, ”when did Nike bring those out.”
Versus knowing that they where custom designed or restored.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO OPEN
UP A BUSINESS RESTORING &
CUSTOM DESIGNING FOOT
WEAR?
PUNCH: I’ve always been a sneaker
head but your cuzin (Terry Henley)
actually turned me on to this game.
He was the one that showed me

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that there was a need for this type of
service for us sneaker heads and those
that always want something different
and fresh. I just didn’t know that I
could actually design and restore shoes
myself. I’ve been in business for 3 year
now.
WHAT’S YOUR TARGET MARKET / THE IDEAL CUSTOMER?
PUNCH: The real sneaker headz that
want some rare shit or has a pair of j’s
they cherish and need them restored.
Those are my primary targets. But like
I said earlier, the people with swagger
and want something ‘Nasty’ on their
feet are the ones I’m trying to reach
out to as well.
WHAT INFLUENCE DID YOUR
HOOD (Hyde Park) HAVE ON
YOUR STYLE?
PUNCH: It was an unknown rule
that we all were in competition with
each other throughout the whole
neighborhood when it came to
creativity, fashion, and styles. It was
hard to compete because the neighborhood was flooded with so many
artistic people. You wanted to be
and had to be fresh walking up and
down 53rd street. That lead to competition throughout the city. But my
neighborhood, Hyde Park, had so
many styles and designs that hit the
street and was pretty successful. From
GET P.A.I.D. gear to PHLI gear to
the original Chiriila street sign the
shirts, that everybody bites. There was
Court Classic the shirts, the original
bus stop designer shirts to your t-shirt,
I am Chicago Basketball shirt, all

the hoopers are wearing. Even now
Willie t-shirt line. That’s just some of
the many flavas coming out of one
neighborhood. That says a lot about
the energy of Hyde Park.
GIVE A PIECE OF ADVICE TO
SOMEONE TRYING TO GET
INTO THE FASHION BUSINESS?
PUNCH: First off you must do your
homework and research the business.
Understand where your going in this
business. Fashion is head-to-toe so you
have to pick a lane whether it’s from
head-to-toe designing or just designing parts or accessories. Find out what
could work for you, but you have to
stay on top of the fashion business
because it’s always changing and there
are biters that copy your style. You
have to be able to switch up on them
because they are coming!
HOW CAN PEOPLE GET UP
WITH YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE?
PUNCH: My social Media pages:
@JRL SNEAKER_SERVICE on
Instagram and Facebook or my email
address which is: Punch929@gmail.
com
GET-UP WITH ‘PUNCH’ AND GET
SOMETHING FRESH FOR THE
HOLIDAYS.