My idea of mixing food and fashion involves the occasional graphic T, or planning my outfit based how much I'm eating later. But that changed once I came across a dope pair of Chucks on my social media feed. When I saw they were covered in fruit, I knew I wanted them — but what I didn’t know is there was a story behind them. A week later, I was not only able to snag a pair, but I got a chance to talk to Duane Bynoe (a.k.a. Cracc Kicks) the creator of the brand The Produce Section Clothing, about how his idea came to Fruition.

Starving on a Budget: When did your passion for fashion and food begin?

Duane Bynoe: As far as sneakers and fashion, I’ve been into that from day one. I’m the youngest of my siblings and my two sisters spoiled me. As I got in junior high that’s when I took heed to people noticing what I had on. And as I got older. I just didn’t stop. It got to a point where I realized I have a passion for sneakers and that I should maybe establish myself in the sneaker culture. That’s when I created Cracc Kicks and the blog. The food part was actually recent. I’ve been a vegan for a year and a half now.

SOAB: Why did you become a vegan?

DB: As I started getting older, as I started reading more and obtaining more knowledge, I started understanding that we don’t need meat to survive. And living in this country, what is done to the meat before it’s given to us — we really shouldn’t be eating meat at all. We should be eating more natural foods, because we are natural people. It’s electric for us.

SOAB: When did it click for you to merge food and fashion?

DB: I had the name and the brand The Produce Section for two years. I had a couple pieces designed, but I never released anything. I didn’t even tell anybody. Once I became a vegan and really sat down and thought about it, I said why I don’t I take me raising awareness of eating the right fruits and vegetables and put that with the brand? And also, give vegans something stylish to wear.

SOAB: What made you create the Chuck Taylors?

DB: At the time — at the job I was working — I learned how to customized shoes. So I had my friend hand draw some fruits, and I downloaded the images, put them in photoshop, printed them on the sneaker and that was it. Everyone liked it, so I was like maybe I should do something with it. So I started to produce the sneakers along with hoodies and a snapback as a part of the Fruition collection which basically stems from the definition: the actual literal state of producing fruit. I stand for fruit and by placing fruit on my garments, I want people to know that we need to eat more fruit.

SOAB: How can people get in their hands on the Chucks or any of your other products?

DB: Right now it’s still the fruition collection and you can email me at sectionproduce@gmail.com Once the sneakers sellout, the hoodies will drop next. The website will be up by then, so you can purchase them on the website. And once those are done, the snapbacks will be available.

Follow The Produce Section Clothing on Instagram

Follow Cracc Kicks on Instagram