Chris Burns

Chris B. is the founder of ARCH (art + research, culture - hype) ARCH is a more informative look into sneaker culture. By presenting information about the business of sportswear through marketing analysis, updates on stock prices and introductions to new brands and styles, the site is easily distinguished from the everyday site only giving you release dates. You can follow me on Twitter @archbyccb or YouTube @archbyccb.

blank

CNBC Reports on a Prediction arch Made Years Ago: Foot Locker says 2022 sales will fall as it expects to sell fewer Nike products

Loading

Foot Locker shares are tumbling after the retailer forecast revenue to drop in 2022. Source: Foot Locker shares sink after retailer says 2022 sales will fall as it expects to sell fewer Nike products This is not gloating. I have a lot of friends at Foot Locker and it pains me to read a post…

Read More
blank

NBA Launchpad Seeks to Develop Technology to Improve Athlete Performance | Betterguards

Loading

Over the next six months, NBA Launchpad portfolio companies will work alongside league and team advisors on R&D projects Source: NBA Launchpad selects 5 companies to develop future of basketball-related technology I recently delivered several posts on low-cut footwear and whether the sneakers are at fault for the increase in ankle injuries for NBA athletes….

Read More
blank

Kerby Jean-Raymond is Leaving Reebok Which Worries Me Even with the Foot Locker Announcement

Loading

The sportswear megabrand appointed the designer as global creative director in September 2020. Photo from Cratemaster under Kerby Jean-Raymond’s direction. Source: Pyer Moss Founder Kerby Jean-Raymond Departs Reebok Less than a year ago I celebrated the beautiful imagery and marketing coming from Reebok. As I celebrated, I also realized that adidas was possibly putting lipstick…

Read More
blank

The paradox of adidas’ First Item of Apparel with Spinnova

Loading

Eight months after adidas announced its partnership with Finnish textile material company Spinnova, the brand has unveiled its first product made in part with Spinnova fibres. Composed of a minimum of 25% wood-based fibres and 75% organic cotton, the adidas TERREX HS1 is a mid-layer for hikers that sees adidas exploring a more sustainable textile solution. Source: ADIDAS UNVEILS…

Read More
blank

New Balance Faces the Difficult Task of Rolling Out Kawhi’s New Shoe While Injuries Place the All-Star on the Shelf

Loading

Source: NEW BALANCE AND KAWHI LEONARD OFFICIALLY UNVEIL NEW VERSION OF THE KAWHI SIGNATURE SHOE AT NBA ALL-STAR 2022 Instead of launching the “New Money” colorway of Kawhi Leonard’s Kawhi II with an appearance in the NBA All-Star Game, New Balance is, “excited” to share that rapper Jack Harlow will be debuting the sneaker during…

Read More
blank

When a Collab is Working Why Stop? FILA and KROST Reveal Apparel, Accessories and Footwear Collection

Loading

Source: FILA and KROST Expand Partnership to Reveal Apparel, Accessories and Footwear Collection I’ve been vocal about Fila’s wholesale strategy in the U.S. The company is currently benefitting from being owned by Chinese brand Anta and the surge in Chinese Nationalism, but in the U.S., Fila remains a confusing company at retail. The use of…

Read More
blank

Anthony Davis’ Ankle Injuries Are Not Due to Low Cut Sneakers

Loading

If you have the time to read this study, please do so and educate yourselves. Ankle-Dorsiflexion Range of Motion and Landing Biomechanics (nih.gov) Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury typically occurs during athletic participation via a noncontact mechanism involving planting, pivoting, or landing (or a combination of these).1 A smaller amount of knee-flexion displacement, greater knee-valgus displacement,…

Read More
blank

The Wholesale Hole Left by Nike is Inspiring Creativity | Designer Brands Invests in Black-Owned Footwear Factory Led by Pensole Founder

Loading

In this new partnership, Designer Brands will invest in the first Black-owned footwear factory in the United States – JEMS by Pensole – to produce shoes designed by PLC graduate students, to be sold exclusively at DSW. Source: Designer Brands Announces $2 Million Investment into First Black-Owned U.S. Footwear Factory, Partnering with Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, President of…

Read More
blank

China’s Nationalism Could Make Brand Decisions to Abandon Mom and Pops in the U.S a Terrible Choice

Loading

From Bloomberg: Data show sustained consumer pivot away from Western brands (partial graphic above from Bloomberg) From Nike’s Fiscal 2022 Q2 report: Revenues in Greater China and APLA declined, largely due to lower levels of available inventory resulting from COVID-19 related factory closures Source: How Nationalism in China Has Dethroned Nike, Adidas Bloomberg recently ran…

Read More