As Head of Design at Dion’s Chicago Dream, I was tapped by the owner, Dion Dawson, to design his upcoming sneaker collaboration.

Working alongside NinetyNine Products, I was able to concept and design a universe for a shoe we dubbed, “From Paris with Love…”

A few years ago, Dion traveled to Paris for a trip that was nothing short of transformational. While not his first time in France, this trip specifically opened him up to the realization that he belongs to a lineage of people who have taken on a similar journey to his, right here in Paris.

For Dion, Paris represents an awakening. The acceptance that living is more than just learning, it is breathing. And it is through that practice that we see how transformation is inevitable.

Inspired by the Parisian Blue Tailed Butterfly, this version of NinetyNine Product’s “The Point” shoe highlights Dion’s metamorphosis that took place during his trip to Paris.

Product shots are below. All work shown was created by Oluwaseyi Adeleke.

Product photography by Sarah Gray (@ess.geezy)