Award winning performance footwear and apparel
Source: 361 Degrees
I continue to make the case that brands who don’t have performance will have a more difficult time breaking through. In a recent post I explained again that performance offers a company a chance to deliver why someone should take a chance on a brand that is ‘new’. When analysts describe a brand leading with performance as shortsighted, those analysts create a tight hamstring for a company. Performance inspires innovation and technical advancements which can then be introduced and deliver more content about a specific brand’s ideas about footwear and how they differ from their counterparts.
361 is a Chinese sportswear company. The brand has been attempting to find its way into the U.S. market for years. They signed Kevin Love once upon a time, but the signing did very little and basketball is a play that is built for the Chinese market. BYU legend Jimmer Fridette is currently signed to the brand in hoops. Aaron Gordon, ironically, is signed to the brand. Gordon is the Orlando Magic forward who has been robbed of the NBA Slam Dunk Championship. 361 is like Gordon. The brand has some amazing technical aspects and they look great, but they just can’t manage to win the game.
The shut down of the sneaker industry has altered the landscape a bit. 361 was in various small accounts and they are now doing a lot of US marketing. They haven’t tried to jump in the water with hoops and performance, although the California Sunset shoe worn by Gordon has a lot of broken sizes on the US Site. 361 is focusing its marketing on running.
A great trail hybrid that is a perfect combination of style and performance meant to tackle and discover on and off-road adventures.
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A breathable and durable mesh upper provides a supportive and comfortable fit.
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MORPHIT Heel Lock, a unique pull-cord heel design that keeps the rearfoot perfectly secure while traversing uneven surfaces.
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Molded QU!KFOAM insole for plush in-foot comfort.
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Stable and durable rubber outsole with articulated flex zones in the forefoot for better grip off-road.
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High abrasive rubber heel crash pad provides durability and shock dispersion.
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QU!K Flex 4Foot Engineering provides for a natural and balanced toe-off and enhances ground contact for better acceleration.
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QU!KFOAM, a midsole material comprised of an EVA rubber blend with PU coating that provides excellent durability, cushioning and responsiveness.
Full Disclosure: at one point I worked with designers at 361 to create my first basketball shoe for ARCH. We came up with some incredible designs over ten years ago. I never released the shoes because we couldn’t agree on a small minimum order quantity. Because I had one of the fastest growing basketball networks in the country at the time, had I made these models, I probably wouldn’t be writing this post right now. Here are the shoes I designed in conjunction with 361 in 2009-10:
While COVID-19 has slowed the wheels on Under Armour, adidas and New Balance, brands and retailers, like 361 have ramped up digital marketing efforts via social media platforms. In my feed right now there are ads from Kangaroos, Oro, Packer, Wolverine, and Saucony. It is probably the most diverse set of ads I’ve seen ever. It’s understandable as the world is utilizing social and streaming as their primary source of engagement and entertainment.
Is it me or have you noticed an abundance of ads for different companies since the quarantine? It’s a good thing as far as I’m concerned.