This week the world was introduced to Marisol (AKA Mari) Garcia.  Hailing from the melting pot of Washington Heights in New York, Mari took the sneaker world by storm with a refreshing take on the connection to kicks.  Her story is reminiscent of our younger days, where our sneaker style was the ultimate vehicle for self-expression.  The ethos of the new ‘MariSole’ webcomic is rooted in more than just cool sneakers.  With a strong foundation of representation for young women of color, Mari’s story is the one we needed when we were younger and were faced with everyday adversities.

Sneakers symbolize a common thread that unifies people from different backgrounds, while Mari’s story drives this message home with a beloved pair of Jordans at the epicenter of it all.  Behind the character are three women who weave each of their own stories into the creation of Mari.  Connecting the dots to culture and community, Robyn Smith, Jamila Rowser, and Jordan Dinwiddie collaboratively infuse elements of why representation matters into each issue of ‘MariSole’.  The story is truly a love letter to young girls everywhere, and emphasizes how a sense of belonging is special to us all.

We had the opportunity to vibe with each creator, diving into their journeys and how those intertwine into the character development and story overall.  With an intentional focus on this coming of age story that we can all relate to in some way, each creator amplified the voice of Mari through the experiences that shaped them.  Let’s take a deep dive as we learn more about how Mari’s character came to fruition, representation, and advice from the women doing the work.

MEET THE CREATORS.

CONCRETE JUNGLE WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE OF…

Jamila: I live in Miami now, but I used to live in The Bronx which I consider my hometown. So a lot of the comics I create are heavily influenced by my time in the city. Washington Heights is also super Dominican so I was really excited to tell a story that takes place there, being that I’m  part Dominican. 

I treat NYC like a character; one that’s frequently present in my stories, even if the comic

doesn’t take place in NYC.

Robyn: I’m grateful to be in the Bronx. I didn’t grow up here but crafting Marisol and her

environment came strictly from my experiences, going in between the Bronx and Washington

Heights. She’s based on folks I have seen many times over, living and loving their lives and

community.

[My] inspiration comes from the people I see around me. I’m an

immigrant who lives amongst many others and I wanted the warmth of the familiarity I feel here

to be the main inspiration behind the drawings.

AT THE INTERSECTION OF SNEAKERS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION.

Jamila: Sneakers are a great way to show off your personality and I love to see the creative ways

people style themselves. Showcasing your love for sneakers and your style on social media is a

great way to connect with other folks in the sneaker community, whether it be in-person or a

digital community.

Robyn: Although i’m not exactly a part of the community, I’ve seen the way people curate their

online presence. Most fascinating to me is the way colour and colour coordination comes into

play. As an outsider it's very cool to see how folks are able to tell so much about themselves just

by their sneaker choice.
Jordan: [Sneakers are] being able to express yourself, exactly how you want the world to see you.

MARI BROUGHT OUT THE STORY IN ALL OF US.

Jamila: Growing up I moved around a lot because my mom was in the Air Force, which meant I was

always the new girl at school. So the awkwardness and anxiousness of starting a new school in

the middle of the year was something I experienced a lot as a teenager, similar to what Marisol

experiences in this comic.

Robyn: I have a younger brother so it was fun calling on our relationship when illustrating Mari and

Julian.
Jordan: I am an anime loving, sneaker wearing, creator.

ON THE CREATIVE PROCESS WHEN DIVING INTO MARI’S CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT…

Jamila: I drew a lot of inspiration from shoujo and josei manga when creating Marisol’s character and

the story. Especially stories where the main character was a little shy, but had a big heart, and

was surrounded by loving and supporting friends and family.

Jordan: I took inspiration from the kids I follow on IG, My younger cousins, and from my own

experiences as a very awkward and very nerdy teenager.
Robyn: I spent a lot of time on sneaker head Tiktok (haha). When it came down to designing her

character my priorities were to make her a fully realized person. More than just a drawing but a

character who was obviously 16, obviously Afro Dominican and obviously from the Heights.

FRIENDSHIPS ARE A FORM OF SELF-CARE.

Jamila: The power of friendship is such a big part of a lot of stories I like to write. When approaching

MariSole I wanted to bring those same elements into the story. I was really interested in showing

how friends can help us get through difficult times in our lives.

Jordan: I’m a true believer in the power of female friendships, and seeing the friendship with Krissy and

Marisol grow, was a story I thought was important to tell. I have such powerful women in my life

that are friends and family, that it was a really natural way to go.

Robyn: My favorite part has to be how Marisol and Krissy meet. It’s super cute and hilarious. I

really love working with Jamila because when it comes down to writing character interaction

she’s the best.

REPRESENTATION MATTERS. PERIOD.

Jamila: Being Black, Dominican, Puerto Rican, and queer, and representation means is everything to

me. Especially as a writer and publisher. It was really important for me to use this opportunity to

create a story that Black and brown queer sneakerheads could see themselves in.

Jordan: The more black and brown women in comics the better. The more black and brown women in

sneakers the better. This project is proof that our stories can be intersectional, honest, fun.

ADVICE FOR ANY CREATIVE ON THE COME UP…

Jamila: Trust your voice. Don’t be discouraged by what you see, or don’t see, in the comic industry.

Know that your stories are important and deserve to be told.

I hope MariSole shows the diversity of the sneaker community and the important role women

play in the culture.

Jordan: My biggest advice is always to work on developing your personal style, which comes from trying

a lot of different things, taking risks, and always creating!

I hope Marisol bridges a gap. The way these two generations look at sneakers are completely

different and I hope that we can learn from each other and look fly along the way.

Robyn: Just go for it. I feel like I ended up here because I knew I was capable so I kept going

despite any push back along the way.

CATCH MORE OF MARISOLE’S JOURNEY ON THE SNKRS APP HERE.

Interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.