On The Road - Chicago’s Own Notre

Getting on trains and planes, meeting new friends, and connecting over shared interests. This is what life is all about. Thrilled to share a story about a Shoe store and some new friends over at Notre in Chicago. #DaileyAdventures #DaileyBlendShow #Travel

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As someone who has on their Twitter profile (@ReedDailey), the quote “Ready 2 travel but only in planes or trains.” The biggest blow to me during this pandemic has been the fact that for the most part, I have not been able to do one of my favorite things in the world, take an adventure. To me, adventures can be as simple and checking out a new part of town, getting on the train and learning about a new part of your city, or getting on a plane and exploring a new portion of the world. Thankfully and fingers crossed, we are getting closer and closer to the end of this whole thing and can get back to the old ways or define new ways, however you want to look at it.

So it is with that said, that I am thrilled about this local adventure that is really a three-part story comprised of old friends, new friends, and connecting with a city that I now call home.

OVERVIEW

Chicago-based boutique’s first-ever collaboration with Nike dropped at the end of January. Releasing two Dunk Hi colorways, these were inspired by traditional workwear, and the rugged, hardworking attitudes of Midwesterners.

“Our Nike Dunk designs were inspired by everything we love about classic workwear, from color palettes, to material selection, to construction techniques. We chose materials that’ll look better the harder you thrash them, pairing heavy canvas with shaggy suede that’s naturally finished, creating subtle color and texture variations that ensure no two pairs look exactly alike. Each pair is reinforced with triple-stitching and features a patch on the left tongue paying homage to the vintage workshirt and a Swoosh modified with our handshake motif.”

NOTRE TEAM

A buddy of mine (Negroni Greg) used to live in the West Loop of Chicago and we would always walk by the Notre Store when we were either heading to drinks or grabbing a sandwich over at J.P. Graziano Grocery. From time to time we would pop in and check out the latest and greatest that Notre was featuring and was always impressed by the original storefront than the expanded space as it sits now. 

Fast forward to a couple of years later when I see this YouTube video of the two co-founders highlighting their Nike collaboration to say I was fired up was the understatement of the year. Sadly they had an event or an online drawing (can’t remember), net-net, took an L. 

Fast forward to a few weeks back, Negroni Greg was back in town, had brunch, and then headed over to the store. Chopped it up with the manager, the staff, and without even knowing it was talking to the co-founder Jose Villanueva. Found out they may have a pair left in my size and about a week later got the call. 

Am I pumped about the shoe you bet you. But more than the shoe, it was listening to the shoes’ origin story through the two co-founders, meeting new friends at the shop and having a genuine human experience in this crazy covid time that made me remember how bad I miss travel, meeting new friends, and connecting over a common interest.

Just want to say thanks to founders Jose Villanueva and Michael Jaworowski for coming up with such a cool concept and big thanks to the team and Notre who was so cool to both me and my daughter when we came to pick up the shoes. As someone who has lived in the Chicagoland area for a couple of years but hasn’t really felt a part of the community. Experiences like this make me feel more and more like I can call Chicago my home. Check out Notre online and if you are in Chicago, head to their West Loop location.

LINK: NOTRE SHOP | @NOTRE IG | NIKE STORY