GREATEST: Janáe Roubleau

Designer Janáe Roubleau saw a need for better children’s clothing while shopping for her son, King. She started creating one-off pieces for him to wear in 2009. From there, Roubleau would start receiving requests for custom pieces for her friends’ children and eventually created her namesake children’s apparel line, ROUBLEAU.

For the most part, it was just Jordans. I don’t really remember anything else but Jordans, because you wore that Jordan for the week and then the next one came out and you wore that shoe, so you really didn’t have time for any other shoes.
Janáe Roubleau

How did you first get into sneakers?

When I was in elementary school, we used to wear AND1s. We used to play basketball and I had this other homegirl, she was the only friend I had who wore AND1s too. But that’s when they had the shorts, so you had the set – but you never wore it together! One time I wore them together. I don’t think anyone saw me, but I wore that whole ‘fit together. (I hope no one has evidence of that.) That’s how I got into sneakers…I was wearing AND1s. When we were younger, they were really cool. My uncle who I hung around with was a year older than me, and I remember him getting some AND1s. I hung out with him and all the other guys in the neighborhood and that was the shoe. It was like the evolution too. There was the skate shoe: DCs, Osiris, Etnies, etc. We would skate in those shoes and those were the shoes we wore. But then we started playing ball more and we started wearing AND1s and after [Nike Air] Forces.

And then in between, I feel like [Nike] Cortez’s always played a role, but that could also be because of where I grew up. There was a gang of Cholos and they just wore Cortez’s, so it was like a powerful statement shoe. Now, everyone who has sneakers has Cortez’s, but back then, it was just Cholos. If you were seen in Cortez’s, they would size you up like, what’s good. It was a strong statement you were making; only gangsters wore that shoe. It wasn’t a shoe that people just wore. It was their uniform. And then after that, my little brother started wearing my size. At that point I was in junior high, and he got some [Jordan] 13s. He didn’t wear them because I wore them all the time, haha. I punked him out of his own shoes low-key. We went to a charter school and we wore a uniform. When we had free dress I always wore those [Jordan 13s]. Otherwise, we had to wear solid black shoes every day of the week until my mom finally let me pick out my shoes. I had Js, but not like that. I feel like she paid more attention to my brother more when it came to sneakers. Foot Locker used to have the two-for-one deal (or when Mervyn’s was around, they sold Js too). I begged my mom for the Olive 9s. I told my mom I wasn’t walking out without them. I sold her on those, but this is how I got her though (because I also wanted these Timbs, and they were navy). So I said, look if you get me these [the Olive 9s] I get these too! So I had my navy Timbs and I had my Js and from that point on, it was just a thing. I guess from there she knew that just like her, I loved sneakers. Every Saturday she just knew we had to go get the new Js that came out. That was it. For the most part, it was just Jordans. I don’t really remember anything else but Jordans, because you wore that Jordan for the week and then the next one came out and you wore that shoe, so you really didn’t have time for any other shoes. For real. It was just Jordan after Jordan after Jordan. So I guess that’s how I became obsessed with shoes.

Wmns SF Air Force 1 High 'Desert Ochre'

Do you still have those Jordans?

Yes. My Olive 9s. The sole crumbled so I have to sole swap it.

How did you get involved with Nike’s ‘Force Is Female ’ campaign?

My friend who works at Nike had this idea. It was spurred by something Trump said, something nasty. She wanted to flip it. This year, since they are focusing on Air Forces, she wanted to create a hashtag that was #TheForceIsFemale. She wanted to get a group of women who are from L.A. but who also stand for something. They are a force within. There were five other girls besides me. One is a YouTuber, one is a stylist, another one is an actress – they all have their foot in something. And so she told me that it’d be a good opportunity for the both of us because I could help execute it. Long story short, it went from just an idea to a platform. We went to Fashion Week. Nike Sportswear New York picked it up (because this was a Nike L.A. thing).

So when you got asked, what was your reaction?

I didn’t think it was going to be a big idea. Individuals shoot me their ideas all the time, but it’s just an idea. It goes back to the conversation we were having about the clothes, where it’s like, you see it, and you do all this production for five seconds of people viewing it when you’ve been looking at it for two years, you know? It’s just an idea until you actually produce it and everyone gets to see it and experience it.

So, when I spoke to her, it was really casual. I talk to her all the time and worked with her when I was working at Undefeated. But eventually, it grew. It made such a huge impact. I spoke to a lot of the women at the panel and they were all really stoked. I got a lot of feedback where people told me I was their favorite [speaker] up there, and I didn’t realize how big [the campaign was] until the panel. You know how everyone always has a story? I guess I didn’t realize that for my age and the women I’m surrounded by, I make an impact. Being a mother who hustles, it’s my story. You know, a lot of people aren’t really even involved in the hashtags. They only do it because it’s trending. So I never pay attention to a lot of that stuff that goes on in social media. But I guess at the panel, a lot of people really are genuinely affected [by the campaign] and I appreciate it more too. I was super nervous at first, but I just went up there and they asked me, “Do you mind opening up about being a mother?" It’s not really something I talk about because I’m reserved, and to me, it’s not a story I rely on income and attention for.

Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG BG 'Top 3'

You made it a point during the Nike ‘Force Is Female’ panel to discuss how you want to pave a lane in fashion for the tomboy females out there who have the same style as you. Were you ridiculed growing up for dressing the way that you do – baggier, with an emphasis on comfort?

I wasn’t ridiculed. Growing up, it was an actual lifestyle that was convenient for my routine. We dressed for comfort. We played basketball, walked everywhere, if not skateboarded, and didn’t have a phone or use technology really. So, when I got dressed it was strictly for the day and not to look cool. I was truly expressing comfort. I think now it’s a “look” for women and girls, rather than a form.

How did you translate those experiences growing up to amass to a certain level of self-confidence now?

I’ve always had confidence that is based on whether I believe in something or not. If I believe in it, I stand strong. If not, I don’t touch it.

You also brought up another good point regarding social media and the way that young women use it nowadays. What’s the difference between exuding confidence and showing too much on social media?

Ninety percent of women on social media expose too much. I don’t feel it’s an expression that exudes confidence, but rather more self-aggrandizement. I think it’s okay if that is what absolutely makes you comfortable, your line of work, and your profile is used to promote just that. I don’t think it’s setting a good example to young women. Your assets shouldn’t be used to self-promote. Sharing anything on social media should be enough. That’s already exuding confidence. It’s such a wide guerilla network and the internet is cruel. It takes courage and balls to post something everyone has access to and can easily judge.

Going back a little bit, can you describe what sort of things you were into growing up? What was it like growing up in Los Angeles for you?

Easy. I enjoyed playing basketball, jumping on trampolines, skateboarding, tag, taking photos at the galleria amongst typical made-up kid games. I grew up within a five-block radius. I pretty much had a daily routine with the same guys every day. I loved sneakers and labels all the same. Growing up in Los Angeles made me feel powerful. I was exposed to a lot. It was pretty gangster.

What are you currently inspired by offline?

Music.

Who are you listening to?

Lately, it’s been Jimi Hendrix. Yeah, Jimi. I tried to listen to trap music and it didn’t work out, haha. I don’t listen to a lot of trap music so every time I go out, even if it’s just an event, I feel so left out.

You don’t really go out that much, huh?

I don’t go out. I like to stay in my vortex.