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Behind the scenes of the footwear industry are the individuals responsible for your favorite release, models, and collaborations every year with many never truly getting the spotlight shone on them. While a select few stand out, like Tinker Hatfield or Steven Smith, according to Footwear News Omar Bailey, who formerly worked as the head of the adidas Yeezy Innovation Lab, is starting his own footwear brand that will help push the envelope when it comes to product development timelines - FCTRY LAb.
20 years under his belt in positions that touched on global product development, design engineering, and manufacturing has positioned Bailey to assist various footwear brands across the industry regardless of size reduce the timeframe it takes to develop products, and get them in the hands of consumers. Typically, you’d expect around 8 to 12 months of R&D before a product can even begin production, however, FCTRY LAb is aiming to expedite this process down to a maximum of 90 days. Lofty goals like this are achievable thanks to the brand's location in the USA which avoids overseas supply chains and the technologically advanced methods of production (3D printing, pattern making, injection molding, etc) hosted inside the LA-based facility.
Expect to see FCTRY LAb truly make waves come next year as the team will begin to handle sales and marketing on top of their wide array of services. We’ll have to wait and see exactly what innovations will come out of LA, but in the meantime give us a follow over on Twitter and download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
