Fctry Lab aims to provide emerging sneaker brands with easier access to resources required to bring sneakers to market. The “FCTRY Lab,” is situated in Los Angeles to provide open-source innovation for both up-and-coming and well-established designers and companies.
In order to establish a unique, end-to-end facility for footwear design, development, and prototype, FCTRY LAb, a lab repurposes cutting-edge additive manufacturing & 3D printing technology and serves as a link between the development of new products and industrial manufacture. The BIPOC-led sneaker innovation and production studio describes itself as an independent innovation studio that is “U.S.-based to avoid the risks and delays of overseas supply chains, thus shrinking product development time from 8-12 months to a short 1-3 months.” A sneaker’s design, production of a prototype, order placement with an Asian manufacturing, and placement on store shelves normally take a year or more.
It was founded by Omar Bailey, the former head of the Yeezy-Adidas Innovation Lab, and Abhishek Som. Bailey was head of the Yeezy Footwear Innovation Lab, supervising a team of makers that brought some blockbuster hits to market, including the Foam Runner and Yeezy 450. “It’s bigger than just shoes,” Bailey said. “It’s about empowering others, empowering creators, athletes, entertainers, the next Virgil Abloh, or the next Jerry Lorenzo, and having a platform to give these individuals to bring them to life.”
According to FCTRY Lab, since its beginning, it has already created numerous footwear lines in collaboration with different design partners, including designing, prototyping, and manufacturing them. It’s exciting to see what else lies in store considering it’s recent $6 million investment.
Visit www.fctrylab.com to discover more.
