ARLINGTON, Texas, Oct. 5, 2026 | Nicholas "Nick" Prentiss, the 25-year-old founder of Bread no-tie elastic shoelaces, has been named to EBONY's 2026 Power 100 list in the Generation Next category. The annual list, unveiled this week, recognizes Black leaders shaping culture across business, entertainment, sports, media, music, STEM and community leadership. The full list is available at EBONY.com/Power100.
Prentiss, a Keller native and Keller High School graduate, started Bread in 2022 from his dorm room at the University of Arkansas, after timing how long it took to lace up a new pair of high-top sneakers: more than a minute. With about $1,500 saved from a security job at a local amphitheater, he spent four months writing a 100-page business plan and opened Bread's doors in 2022.
"When I started Bread in my dorm room, I threw myself off the deep end because I believed this was what I was meant to do," said Prentiss. "Building it from an idea into something that makes people's lives a little easier is what I'm proudest of. Being recognized by EBONY, alongside so many people making an impact across our culture, tells me that belief was worth it."
Four years later, Bread has sold roughly 750,000 pairs, generated millions in lifetime revenue, and earned a #1 ranking on Amazon in its category. The brand has grown almost entirely through social media, where more than 1,000 original videos have earned over 500 million organic views. Earlier this year, Bread moved its headquarters and warehouse home to North Texas, in Arlington.
Bread Laces are made to look like traditional shoelaces while stretching, so wearers can slip shoes on and off without untying them. The brand's customers include sneaker collectors, busy parents, seniors, first responders, and people living with arthritis and chronic pain. Bread is sold at lacebread.com, on Amazon, and at retailers including SCHEELS, Zumiez, and more.
The EBONY honor follows Prentiss's recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 2025 list in Retail & Ecommerce.
Power 100 honorees will be celebrated at the 2026 EBONY Power 100 Gala on Monday, November 9, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Prentiss will attend the ceremony, which is produced in partnership with Jesse Collins Entertainment.
About Bread
Bread makes no-tie elastic shoelaces designed to look like the laces they replace. Founded in 2022 by Nicholas Prentiss in his University of Arkansas dorm room and now based in Arlington, Texas, Bread turns almost any lace-up shoe into a slip-on and has sold roughly 750,000 pairs to sneakerheads, busy parents, seniors, and people with limited mobility. Every pair is backed by a lifetime guarantee. Bread is available at lacebread.com, on Amazon, and at retailers including SCHEELS and Zumiez.
Press Contact
Eliza Kjar (Kjar PR)
eliza@kjarpr.com
