The JEMS team has 300+ years of combined footwear industry experience. With access to the top footwear materials and component suppliers, factory partners, retail partners, and industry innovators, JEMS is the premier footwear factory in the US.

The Genesis Of A Brand The JEM STU/DEO opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 20th, 2023, 140 years to the day our namesake, Jan Ernst Matzeliger patented his footwear industry-changing lasting machine, a technology still used today.

He founded JEMS, the first Black-owned athletic footwear factory in the US, in 2022 with the vision to empower the next generation of creatives by offering greater accessibility to manufacture their own brand, ultimately leaving the industry a better, more diverse place.

Learn about the first JEM sneaker brought to you by JEMS Makers at JEMS by PENSOLE. Celebrating the innovation of Jan Ernst Matzeliger and crafted in the first Black-owned athletic footwear factory, this brand aims to redefine the shoe industry.

Apr 17, 2023 · On March 20, 2023, a shoe factory opened in Somersworth, NH. JEMS by PENSOLE, the first Black-owned athletic shoe company in the US, is an exciting revival of a tradition of manufacturing in the city.

JEMS is continuing a legacy of excellence, inspiring the future, and bringing manufacturing back to the US. Shop JEMS by PENSOLE at DSW. Free shipping, convenient returns and extra perks for VIPs. See what's new from JEMS by PENSOLE on DSW.com today!

Sep 15, 2023 · Designer Brands and JEMS by PENSOLE plan to utilize the new Somersworth factory to roll out future lines of athletic footwear by new brands and underrepresented designers in the coming years....

Sep 19, 2023 · Designer Brands, one of the world’s largest designers, producers and retailers of footwear and accessories, unveiled the FIRST JEM, the inaugural shoe from the JEMS by PENSOLE brand.

Sep 26, 2023 · In 2022, Edwards founded one of the first Black-owned athletic footwear factories in the U.S. through a partnership with Designer Brands. The Jan Ernst Matzeliger Studio (JEMS) is located in Somersworth, New Hampshire. And the brand, JEMS by PENSOLE, has now released its first shoe called the FIRST JEM.

Like all great designs, the JEMS logo tells a unique story, inspired by the man behind the name. You guessed it, Jan Ernst Matzeliger. Tune in as Dr. Edwards explains the meaning behind the logo, its development, and its evolution.