The leadership changes, combined with a strategic alignment of NIKE’s operating model against the CDA, will create even greater focus and agility that will be enabled by a nimbler, flatter organization in service of consumers. Source: Nike Senior Leadership Changes Consumer Direct Acceleration I’m writing this post for two reasons: Matt Kish of the Portland…
Source: Timberland’s Pillars for Community Service Two weeks ago, I wrote a scathing post on Timberland. My frustration stemmed from Timberland’s apparent lack of support for their positions on social injustice and their lack of support for the Black community when they are one of the few outdoor brands who has consistently benefited from the…
The React Presto is one of the most comfortable shoes Nike has made. The ample React cushion and the sock like fit, make it easy to slip on get going. The hits of amoeba-like rubber on the outsole give just enough grip to feel secure when walking. This is not a training shoe, but can…
The LeBron 17 arrives in an homage to Nike’s FORCE Basketball series from the 90s. The Command Force was worn in White Men Can’t Jump and David Robinson and Charles Barkley had signatures in the line. The shoe was a sturdy pair with Max Air cushioning and the LeBron 17 follows in that line and…
There has been a lot of talk about increasing diversity at Sneaker Companies. That conversation tends to be around design. There are an abundance of opportunities in the industry. Job availability at this time may be limited because of COVID-19, but you need to be aware of what is out there. Here is a list…
The LeBron 17 Low arrives just in time for the season reboot inside of the bubble. The shoe features a perforated leather and woven upper. Like all of the 17 lows the difference in design arrives on the insole. This pair shows the name LEBRON JAMES in the same font as the classic Lakers logo….
A few months ago I wrote that Sneaker Retail Managers are the real MVPs of the sneaker industry. This post is going to ramble a bit because I’m frustrated, nervous and angry about the things happening in the sneaker industry right now. Here is the post on Retail Managers: Sneaker Retail Managers are the Real…
Source: NEW BALANCE AND JADEN SMITH LAUNCH NEW FOOTWEAR COLLABORATION Willow just dropped details on her collab with Onitsuka Tiger; and not to be outdone Jaden and New Balance collide to create a vegan friendly sneaker for the Icon emcee and actor. OnitsukaTiger × Willow Smith But… This wouldn’t be an arch-usa.com post if I…
The LeBron 17 Low rollout was disrupted by COIVD-19. The Easter version of the shoe was pushed back. This colorway is one of the prettiest sneakers Nike has released. I used an old camera because I was busy and I cheated this sneaker. This shoe deserves a close up. It features a smooth, soft nubuck…
The LeBron 17 Low in my opinion is the best looking LeBron to release in the last 8 years. Nike kept it simple with a woven mesh upper with perforated nubuck and leather mudguards. A silicone Swoosh has a metallic quality that stands out as a silhouette while the cushioning features both React and Max…
Source: Men’s Traction LE – Golf I’ve been trying to stress the importance for brands to utilize a strategy I developed named Niche-Out. The concept is simple and while I developed this term, it’s understood by anyone who has worked in any industry, in order to grab marketshare, do one thing very well and…
CLAE Footwear. Shop modern silhouettes that emphasize uncommon comfort and versatility for today’s active lifestyle. Source: CLAE I’ve owned two different sneaker companies. While operating those brands, I had to navigate the deep waters where marketshare was almost impossible to attain. I’ve written reports on Facebook ads, Amazon ads and various strategies utilized to get…
Penny Hardaway may have retired, but even this generation is a fan of the point guard that laid the groundwork for LeBron’s style of play. The Memphian currently leads his alma mater as head coach and this model, released after his retirement celebrates his city with nods in several places on the upper and insole….
The Denim Uptempo didn’t fly off of shelves. Nike has a tendency to overproduce certain models and the Uptempo has been dropped in far too many colorways. This Denim version is a tough sale as the model arrives in three different washes on the denim used on the upper. Pairing up the kicks becomes a…
The Air Jordan 3 remains the most classic of all of the models. The 11 may be the most coveted, but the 3 represents a variety of the iconic moments we associate with the brand. This version was made for the NBA All Star Weekend in Chicago. The 2020 event featured two versions of this…
Source: A design program in partnership with Pensole at the Brooklyn Creator Farm supported by Pharrell Williams. Less than a month ago I wrote a post scratching the surface of the problem of creating diversity in the sneaker industry: adidas’ Dilemma, Nike’s Reality and All Industries’ ‘Truths’: a Paradox On the Difficult Path to Equality…
Onitsuka Tiger Brand Ambassador Willow Smith Source: OnitsukaTiger × Willow Smith | Onitsuka Tiger United States The Fresh Prince has an Air Jordan Sneaker, the Retro 5. The Fresh Prince is not Will Smith. Will Smith is a business person and an entertainer. Last year a strange collaboration took place and I questioned why Will…
The first Nike Rise door opens in Guangzhou July 9, with additional doors in Nike’s global store fleet opening in 2021. Source: Nike Rise Retail Concept I wanted to lead with a picture of Nike Fit inside of Nike’s new Rise Concept in China to stress the touch free process of size and fit in…
The Air Max 97 arrives just in time for the Olympics… but COVID-19 erased the Olympics so the Medal Pack colorway is just a regular drop. Actually it’s a Quickstrike so it’s been bumped up to 180. In this video, my light is hitting the 3M so the shoe looks white. It’s actually all gold.
7-24-2020 Update: I decided to dig deeper into Timberland and discovered that the company has been doing a lot of work. My post below created a dialogue with the team at Timberland and I’ve adjusted my position on this matter. This is an instance of “Good Trouble” with the potential for a better story. Read…
The Air Jordan 5 Retro gets the “What the?” treatment in the Top 3 from Jordan Brand. The shoe features elements from The Fire Red, Black Metallic and Grape.
The Air Jordan 1 Low is arriving in more colors that pay homage to OG versions of the Air Jordan 1 High and Low OG. This color is almost a Shadow colorway differing only in the white lateral and medial side panel and the heel being black vs grey. The leather is softer on the…
