Athletic Propulsion Labs expands in Asia

By

Cassidy Mantor

Published
Mar 2, 2016

Athletic Propulsion Labs, the footwear brand known for creating the only shoe ever banned by the NBA, has just signed up with Lane Crawford to expand distribution to Hong Kong and throughout China.

Athletic Propulsion Labs, or APL, is a Southern California based company founded by two USC athletes, Adam and Ryan Goldston. APL was created out of the twin brothers’ vision to have a “company providing revolutionary products symbolizing the ultimate intersection of design and performance.”

Since its inception in 2009, APL has created technologically superior performance footwear. Their patented “Load ‘N Launch Technology” was proven to make the wearer jump higher, thus leading to the ban by the NBA for “providing an unfair competitive advantage” to the players wearing it.

APL has been influenced by Asian street style as much as it in turn infiltrates the market. “In Asia, I feel like the customers are more willing to take a chance with the product that they are wearing,” said Adam Goldston.

Korea and Japan contribute significantly to APL’s online sales, and are likely the next countries for expansion. It is rumored that Theory in Korea has interest. For now, APL will launch a line exclusive to Lane Crawford next month.