Premium blank apparel manufacturer Next Level Apparel, a family-owned company recognized for its ethically sourced wholesale products, has been selected as the official apparel partner for the Got Sole 2026 U.S. tour. The partnership highlights the brand's continued presence within the streetwear and pop culture industries, where individuality, customization, and creative expression play a central role.

Over the years, the Got Sole festival series has established itself as one of the leading live marketplaces in the international sneaker community, attracting thousands of collectors, artists, retailers, and enthusiasts. The events showcase a broad range of interests, including sneakers, streetwear, trading cards, vintage fashion, and luxury merchandise. Expanding from a single event into a multi-city and international experience—with stops in cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami—Got Sole has evolved into a dynamic hub where commerce, fashion, and culture intersect.

This cultural landscape aligns closely with Next Level Apparel's brand identity. The company has built its reputation on producing premium-quality blank garments with strong ethical sourcing practices and superior printability, making its apparel a preferred foundation for designers, decorators, and creators who view quality as the starting point for artistic customization.

The collaboration also extends Next Level Apparel's relationship with graffiti and pop artist Kever Ones (Gene Michael), originally from Brooklyn and now based in South Florida. Earlier this year, the artist collaborated with the brand on a mural project in Florida that showcased his signature fusion of graffiti aesthetics and pop art influences. For the Got Sole 2026 tour, that artistic vision has been reimagined into a series of limited-edition sneaker boxes featuring exclusive designs tailored to each tour destination. Each box will include Next Level Apparel's 7200 Heavyweight T-Shirts, selected for their premium construction, relaxed streetwear-inspired silhouette, and everyday comfort, reflecting the growing popularity of oversized fashion trends.

Produced in collaboration with Hittn' Skins, the exclusive sneaker boxes will be available in limited quantities at tour stops in Chicago on July 25, Los Angeles on September 19, and Miami on October 24. The collection aims to provide attendees with a tangible representation of the creativity and culture that define the Got Sole experience.

"Next Level Apparel represents the convergence of craftsmanship, quality, and creative expression," said Etienne Houseknecht, Head of Marketing at Next Level Apparel. "Got Sole serves as a vibrant marketplace driven by customization and culture, where sneakers and streetwear are continually transformed and reimagined by the community. Our apparel already serves as the foundation for much of that creativity, and this partnership allows us to bring that connection directly to fans and creators attending the events."

Jonathan DiModica, Founder and CEO of Got Sole, emphasized the community-driven nature of the festival. "Got Sole has always celebrated the collectors, creators, and communities that shape this culture," he said. "Partnering with Next Level Apparel for our 2026 tour enables us to showcase that spirit through unique products and storytelling experiences that capture the energy and authenticity of every event."

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Whether they're shaping public policy, developing technology, launching companies, or strengthening communities, the 400 leaders who came together in Washington, D.C., for the 2025 Global Inclusive Growth Summit were united by a shared objective: to discover new ways to expand access to opportunity and enhance resilience for everyone.

“No one has exclusive rights to innovation,” said Shamina Singh, founder and president of Mastercard's Center for Inclusive Growth, the organization behind the annual summit. “When we pull the best insights from nonprofits, businesses, creatives, futurists, and historians alike, we can find meaningful solutions, take action, and drive change.”

Throughout the event, participants explored a range of ideas — from advancing economic inclusion to fostering trust in digital technologies, particularly AI, to embracing authenticity as a leadership strength.

Andy Kuper, CEO and founder of LeapFrog Investments, emphasized the power of inclusive digital models: “The future belongs to businesses that engage vast numbers of people through small but frequent transactions. We shouldn’t view poverty as a problem to avoid, but rather recognize the opportunity to empower billions of emerging consumers — generating both profit and positive impact.”

Linda Kirkpatrick, Mastercard’s president for the Americas, spoke to the momentum in financial technology: “This moment is exciting because it brings together the stability of traditional finance and the agility of modern digital tools. Our global infrastructure can now support and scale even emerging digital currencies.”

Andrea Jung, president and CEO of Grameen America, highlighted how modest investments can spark meaningful change: “People often ask what $2,500 can do in the U.S. The answer? Launch a business. We’ve seen over 240,000 cases where this funding didn’t just provide stability — it created upward mobility.”

Lisa Plaggemier, executive director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance, addressed the need to demystify cybersecurity for small businesses: “We help entrepreneurs understand and plan for cyber risks just like they would for any other threat. A recent Mastercard study revealed that nearly half of small businesses had suffered a cyberattack, and one in five ended up closing or filing for bankruptcy afterward.”

The summit also showcased the Mastercard Strive Marketplace, which featured small and micro businesses using data-driven digital tools to promote inclusive economic growth.

Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince shared optimism about AI’s protective role in cybersecurity: “With access to vast internet data and machine learning, we’re detecting threats that would otherwise go unnoticed. In the AI era, data is power — and the good guys have more of it.”

Navrina Singh, founder and CEO of Credo AI, advocated for ethical frameworks in AI development: “Terms like ‘governance’ and ‘guardrails’ may sound restrictive, but they’re crucial to making AI applications trustworthy. It’s not just about humans trusting AI — with autonomous agents, we also need AI systems to trust one another.”

Danielle Holly of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation discussed rethinking design through a regenerative lens: “The circular economy isn’t just about waste — it’s about reimagining how products are created. AI is helping us retrain the workforce to think about multiple lifecycles when designing goods.”

Pat Smith, CEO of Pat Smith Enterprises, spoke about the democratizing force of the creator economy: “Social media can seem overwhelming, but you don’t need fancy tools to get started. Everyone has something valuable to share — use what you’ve got.”

Finally, Rich Lesser, global chair of Boston Consulting Group, emphasized authenticity and trust as leadership essentials: “Effective leaders welcome critical thinking and tough questions. Skepticism fuels progress. But cynicism — doubting people’s intentions — erodes trust. Resilient leadership starts with earning that trust through genuine actions.”