Do we dare say that there is a method to the madness? No we are not going to make this about “Ye,” aka Kanye West because he can speak for himself. Although we do not agree with his deliveries or particular views, there is the looming thought of “what he’s up to,” and “what he’s planning next?” It was a shock to all that Adidas ended their partnership with Ye. But is this the end or just the beginning?
One thing we can agree on, is the footwear industry is bottlenecked for creatives and innovators who look to start or expand their brands. Especially for those creatives of color.
Omar Bailey, the former head of Yeezy-Adidas Innovation Lab; and Abhishek Som, a former Wallstreet and Private Equity Executive, have launched FCTRY Lab. A BIPOC-led high-tech prototype and creation lab geared towards additive manufacturing, development, ownership, scaling, and cultural representation in the sneaker industry.
On Wednesday December 15th FCTRY Lab based in the US, announced that they raised $6 million in capital with investments from some of the industry’s top professionals in athletics, venture capital firms, and angel investors, to make their vision a reality. Their capabilities include minimizing downtime in production of footwear within a 1-3 month window, vs. 8-12 months from competitors overseas. Additionally offering 2D+/3D+ digital designs and printing, performance testing, post-production, shoe making, cobbling, and more, while providing professional equality and optimism amongst minority designers, athletics, and influencers.
This gives creatives the opportunity not only to design, but have a hands-on proof of concept and bridge between manufacturing. FCTRY Lab is a game changer!
You can find more information about FCTRY Lab on their website and follow them via Linkedin and Instagram.
SOURCE: FCTRY LAb
