{"id":211294,"date":"2020-04-02T16:22:15","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T20:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=211294"},"modified":"2020-04-07T12:44:43","modified_gmt":"2020-04-07T16:44:43","slug":"montclair-state-alumni-jump-into-abcs-shark-tank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2020\/04\/02\/montclair-state-alumni-jump-into-abcs-shark-tank\/","title":{"rendered":"Montclair State Alumni Jump Into ABC\u2019s Shark Tank"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the \u201cathleisure\u201d shoe firm Muvez Footwear<\/a> is featured on ABC\u2019s hit show Shark Tank<\/em> this Friday, April 3, McMichael Torres and Chanel DeJesus won\u2019t be on screen, but they\u2019ll be part of the pitch.<\/p>\n

Behind the scenes, these two recent Montclair State graduates have played pivotal roles in getting Muvez (pronounced \u201cmoves\u201d) Footwear, which specializes in a shoe that transforms from a slipper to an outdoor shoe with the help of a removable outer sole, into the spotlight.<\/p>\n

When Muvez was just six months old, Shark Tank<\/em> \u2013 where fledgling business tycoons vie for investment from a panel of business expert \u201csharks\u201d \u2013 discovered the startup on social media and reached out. Still it took multiple auditions for Muvez to make it to prime time.<\/p>\n

Although the COVID-19 outbreak wasn\u2019t on the radar of Muvez Footwear or Shark Tank<\/em> when the show was taped, the Muvez shoe has quickly become the perfect footwear for challenging times.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, we thought that being able to change shoes without touching them would be a nice side benefit. Now it\u2019s a crucial benefit of our entire product line. We\u2019re even happier to contribute a bit of extra comfort and safety at a time when millions of us are making huge changes to our daily routines,\u201d says founder Eric Cruz.<\/p>\n

Muvez Footwear began when Cruz, his brother, Ryan, and their friend Kevin Zamora had the idea to create a comfortable, athletic-style shoe to wear to sports practices before putting on cleats or other active footwear. The \u201cMuvez 3:AM\u201d shoe consists of a knit upper with a lightweight rubber sole \u2013 like a sturdy slipper \u2013 and a durable, removable \u201couter sole\u201d that snaps into place on the bottom to create a slip-on sneaker. Both parts can be worn outdoors, then the outer shell snaps off at home, for a slipper that lets you keep the dirt outside.<\/p>\n

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The Muvez 3:AMs are lightweight indoor slippers that transition to outdoor shoes with a snap-on outer sole.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chanel DeJesus agrees that the Muvez team will adapt with the times. \u201cAs soon as I met the Muvez team I knew they had the drive and determination to make it big, which is ultimately why I accepted the summer internship with them.\u201d DeJesus, who graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, interned for Muvez in 2018. Working social media, she engaged with influencers to secure brand promotion and also promoted the 2018 Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride, which Muvez sponsored.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile McMichael Torres, who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Montclair State in 2017, joined Muvez Footwear as a freelancer just weeks after graduation but quickly took on a much larger role: \u201cWithin a few months, I was offered an opportunity to become a partner.\u201d<\/p>\n

As one of Muvez\u2019s founders \u2013 along with the Cruz brothers and Zamora \u2013 Torres now works as video production manager for the fast-growing company.<\/p>\n

\"Shark
The \u201csharks\u201d \u2014 Mark Cuban, Daymond John, Kevin O\u2019Leary, Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec \u2014 ready to circle as Muvez Footwear presents.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Torres and DeJesus aren\u2019t surprised by the product\u2019s flexible appeal or success.<\/p>\n

Says DeJesus, \u201cI am excited to see what the Muvez team has in store for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Torres is looking forward to more success while looking back at how he got to this point: \u201cMy education at Montclair State provided me with both an ability to creatively problem-solve and apply my knowledge in graphic design that ultimately helped us earn the recognition from Shark Tank<\/em> producers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Editor’s note:<\/strong> Shark Daymond John invested $200,000 in the slipper-to-sneaker company.<\/p>\n

Story by Staff Writer Mary Barr Mann<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Photos courtesy of\u00a0Walt Disney Television.<\/p>\n