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Hibbett, Inc., (NASDAQ:HIBB), an athletic-inspired fashion retailer with more than 1,100 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores nationwide, today announced the launch of City Gear’s Fresh Off The Block (FOTB), a digital lifestyle series created to celebrate the stories of sneaker enthusiasts from cities across America. The first FOTB project takes place in Memphis, Tennessee and spotlights two inspiring individuals who grew up in the historical and tight knit community of Memphis. The two talk candidly about how the Memphis vibe has shaped their hobbies, interests, musical taste and sneaker style.
“Memphis is the birthplace of City Gear and it seems fitting to kick off Fresh Off The Block in this culturally-rich community that has so much to offer from fashion and style to music and basketball,” said Sarah Sharp-Wangaard, VP Marketing, Hibbett. “We are grateful to our partners at Nike for helping us bring this project to life and look forward to seeing these stories gain momentum in more neighborhoods across the country.”
The FOTB crew followed and filmed Kennedy Moore and PreauXX in and around Memphis and captured their perspectives and experiences with Memphis street culture. Viewers first hear from Kennedy Moore, @kmoorethegoat, a street baller, actor and comedian who’s love of basketball runs through his blood. He shows viewers around his hometown of Orange Mound, a cultural hub and storied part of Memphis built solely by and for African Americans in 1890. Cameras captured Moore on the court as he shared his true love of all things basketball and fashion.
Moore recalls that growing up in Memphis, all the kids would wear all white Nike Air Force 1’s. “Everyone knew that you had to have all white Forces, it’s a rule, don’t come to school without them. In Memphis we’re gonna put a flavor on something. You can give us a basic outfit and we’ll make it feel like the best thing ever. If I have on a basic outfit, but I have on white Force’s, I’m good. And as far as basketball in Memphis, everyone wanted to play basketball and everyone wanted to be like Alan Iverson growing up. My favorite player that came from Memphis is Penny Hardaway. Probably the best player that ever played for Memphis and now we got Ja Morant, we just keep getting better.”
Next, the crew meets up with PreauXX, @preauxx, a rapper and performing artist who has strong ties to his Memphis community. PreauXX says his favorite things about Memphis are the people and culture, the ease of navigating the city and the wings. The crew catches up with PreauXX in the studio where audiences hear his musical style, which is as unique as his fashion. “The Memphis music scene is indoctrinated in my sound, the bounce, the rawness of the people. I truly believe if you make it in Memphis you can make it anywhere. We don’t care how fly you are, how much money you have, it’s who you are and that stands the test of time.”
Discussing the 40th Anniversary of the Nike Air Force 1, PreauXX recalls how he was inspired by the Nelly era. “You had to have the Air Force 1 hightop with the tongue hanging out and they had to be crispy. If you step outside with dirty Forces there is something wrong with you.” PreauXX describes his personal style as eclectic, very colorful, very sly, very smooth and luxurious. “I love a shoe that tells a story and stands out in a way that only a few people can pull off. A cream shoe with some natural earth tones is so player to me. Memphis fashion has made me fearless, in your face as much as possible. Not in what I wear, but how I wear it.”
FOTB debuts today with two episodes that can also be viewed across multiple platforms including; Hibbett | City Gear, Nice Kicks , and on social channels at @CityGear and @NiceKicks.
About Hibbett, Inc.Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1,117 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 36 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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