Limited Edition Athlete Collection
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Athletes Make The Best™ and Johnny Famous Footwear today announced the launch of a limited-edition apparel collection designed to inspire current and future workforce professionals and suppliers who power the global retail supply chain.
Founded by New York native, former youth soccer player, entrepreneur, and CEO Johnny Smith, Johnny Famous Footwear has spent nearly two decades building a luxury-inspired footwear brand recognized for premium materials, distinctive silhouettes, and design influences from the iconic styles of the 1980s and 1990s. The brand serves customers across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe. Through this collaboration, Smith hopes to share his experience in sports, entrepreneurship, and the global retail supply chain to help create career and business opportunities for the next generation and experienced professionals seeking new career pathways.
The Athletes Make The Best™ x Johnny Famous Footwear collection features a limited run of T-shirts and hoodies celebrating the professionals who move products from concept to consumer, including designers, buyers, merchandisers, planners, and logistics professionals. The collection reflects a shared belief that athletes develop discipline, leadership, resilience, creativity, and teamwork that translate into successful careers across retail, manufacturing, and supply chain industries. As part of the collaboration, Johnny Famous Footwear has also joined the Athletes Make The Best™ Companies membership, recognizing employers that value the leadership, work ethic, and performance athletes bring to the workforce.
“I recently connected with the Sports Power Infrastructure team during the NY/NJ World Cup activities and seeing how they engaged the community around careers beyond sports inspired me,” said Johnny Smith, Founder and CEO of Johnny Famous Footwear. “Sharing my journey from youth sports to building a footwear brand is an opportunity to help the next generation, as well as experienced professionals looking to transition into new careers, see what is possible.”
Proceeds from the collection will support Retail Supply Chain Workforce and Supplier Development through the Sports Power Infrastructure Fund, managed by The SPIN Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The fund provides workforce training, supplier development resources, and grants that help athletes, coaches, entrepreneurs, and suppliers prepare for career and business opportunities while strengthening local economies.
“The partnership demonstrates how sports, fashion, and workforce development can create lasting economic opportunity,” said Tenicka Chaney, Managing Director of Sports Power Infrastructure and Athletes Make The Best™. “Helping athletes understand the retail supply chain provides transferable skills that open doors to careers in industries including energy, maritime, construction, advanced manufacturing, and other sectors that depend on high-performing talent. Together, we are strengthening tomorrow's workforce while helping athletes build careers beyond competition.”
Pre-orders are available now. The limited-edition Summer Collection launches in August, with the Holiday Collection available beginning in November. Individuals, companies, and corporate partners can also support the Sports Power Infrastructure Fund by making a tax-deductible donation at athletesmakethebest.com.
Share: