In the article, which broke Sunday, Lance delved into such topics as LA Gear brand-owner ACI’s partnership with top indie retailer Sportie LA, the brand history, his inspirations for the new product, and the upcoming relaunch of LA Lights.

Read the article here: http://www.formatmag.com/features/la-gears-lance-jackson/

And for our own Q&A with Lance, check out “LA Gear: Still Unstoppable” from our archives.  

BEVERLY HILLS, CA, December 9, 2008 – Iconic sneaker brand LA Gear is back, with a line of sneakers reviving many of the brand’s signature styles from the Unstoppable line, while updating some colors and materials.

LA Gear-owner ACI teamed up with top indie retailer Sportie LA for the relaunch, with the Fire High (known for its fiery emblem), the Star Shooter High (B-ball on the tongue), the womens Flame High (with its twisted leather pattern, recognized as one of the brand’s most iconic styles), and the K.A.J. (which updates the classic shoe with striking metallic silver and gold) among the styles brought back for

the endeavor. The much-anticipated line releases today in-store and online only at Sportie LA, with select retailers entering the mix next month.

“LA Gear is one of the classic heritage brands, and we’re staying true to that,” said Sportie LA co-owner Isack Fadlon. “A few years ago, everyone was coming back, it was the thing to do. With LA Gear, we and ACI have chosen the timing, we didn’t fall into the trap of following suit.” Fadlon added that the LA-centric
theme is no coincidence: “ACI and Sportie LA are both based here, and the timing reflects a boon in fashion in Los Angeles. The city’s profile in that regard is rising so quickly, gaining stature in its own right.”

On a broader note, said Fadlon, “Based on early reaction, we’re confident about the level of energy this will bring to stores, consumers, and the industry as a whole.”

“It has been almost 20 years since these original LA Gear styles have been in the market, and we feel like it’s time to bring them back,” said ACI’s Lance Jackson, Director of LA Gear Specialty Product. “It’s a project LA Gear is very confident and excited about!”

In its second phase, the team will bring back the LA Lights, a trademark of the period, which will be available in kids, mens, and womens sizes.

With four stores in the Los Angeles area, and a clientele that reads like a Who’s Who of fashion-conscious celebrities, Sportie LA is considered one of the chief influencers on today’s sneaker scene. In 2007, the company was listed #3 among Independent Retailers on Footwear News’ Power 100. Fadlon himself has been ranked #44 in this year’s list of Top 100 industry players.

NOW ON SALE 

We know you’ve been waiting patiently, and now, for the first time, you can get a look at the new styles from LA Gear!

 
This video was shot at WSA in Las Vegas, where LA Gear offered a select group of top indie retailers nationwide a Sneak Peek at the Fall 08 line, developed in conjunction with Sportie LA! NOW ON SALE

As ACI’s Lance Jackson said at the Sneak Peek mixer, “Any time you’re showcasing your wares for the first time, there’s a deep breath, a little anxiety. But even before the mixer, we had retailers coming up to the suite and asking if they could take the shoes home with them.” Check out this clip to find out what all the excitement was about.

(Video courtesy of SLAM)

BUY NOW

BUY LA Gear tyles now, from Sportie LA

As you all know by now, LA Gear-owner ACI has partnered up with top indie retailer Sportie LA to bring back the Unstoppable line. Well, the long-awaited Pre-Sale has begun! Many of LA Gear’s signature styles are back, with

some updated colors and materials. To be one of the first to rock the Fire High, the Star Shooter High, or the K.A.J. (which
 updates the classic Kareem shoe with a striking metallic silver and gold combo), among others, visit:

“Early reaction has been so positive, we’re really pleased to be offering these styles online,” said Sportie LA co-owner Isack Fadlon. “And I have to say, it’s also going to be a real thrill to have the shoes on our shelves and see how customers react in person.” 

LAS VEGAS, NV, August 17, 2008 – In a suite high atop the North Tower of the La Vegas Hilton, the B-52s blared over the sound system. Ads for LA Gear featuring sports and entertainment icons – and kids with their stone-washed jeans tucked into their LA Lights – adorned the walls. Classic jean jackets boasting the brand’s indelible logo were slung over armchairs. Blue lights cast a moody hue over the bar, creating the aura of a Rick Astley video. And yet, for all the tribute paid to nostalgia and the past… the future was very much present.

On display in the suite were a host of LA Gear styles. They recalled the classics: the K.A.J.,
the Fire High, the Star Shooter High, men and womens gold and silver styles, the Flame, and more – but with a distinctly modern spin. By the window, set against the backdrop of the Vegas strip, was a look even further into the future: STYLES HERE, all of which will be included in the next round of offerings from LA Gear.

Standing in the center of the room were ACI’s Lance Jackson, Director of LA Gear Specialty Product, and Isack Fadlon, co-owner of Sportie LA. The two men have partnered on the brand’s relaunch, and this was the first time they’d formally presented the product. In attendance were a select group of indie retailers, trade press, and, as it turned out, longtime fans of the brand who’d heard some new Gear was afoot.

“Any time you’re showcasing your wares for the first time, there’s a deep breath, a little anxiety,” said Jackson, “But even before the mixer, we had retailers coming up to the suite and asking if they could take the shoes home with them.”

While the excitement was certainly welcome, Jackson is sticking to his plan for a limited
release, at first exclusively at Sportie LA, expanding distribution to include a handful of retailers after the first month. “We had a sense of the enthusiasm out there when we began hunting down original shoes and jackets on eBay,” Jackson recalled. “We couldn’t believe what we were paying for our own stuff!”

“The turnout and energy were fantastic,” said Fadlon. “Beyond the event itself, though, we wanted to capture the faces of LA Gear, the connection people have to the brand and why they’re so psyched to see it coming back.” To that end, SLAM, the marketing and content eGency responsible for promoting the launch, brought in a film crew to interview guests.

“We put together a list of questions for people,” said SLAM Creative Director Hesh Rephun,
“but people started talking as soon as they sat down, and it was really just a conversation from that point. Sometimes, they started talking before they sat down.”

The video will be released shortly as part of the relaunch campaign, along with Web commercials, and other surprises. Based on the reactions of press, retailers, and others, expect to see and hear a lot more about the return of LA Gear.

“Ultimately, the consumer decides what works,” Fadlon concluded. “We trust our audience, and they trust us, and we certainly feel we’re in sync on this one.”

Men