FCTRY LAB, a Black-owned sneaker innovation company based in Los Angeles, has raised over $15 million in a highly successful Series A funding round. This investment fuels the company’s mission to give creators more control and ownership in the sneaker business.
Co-founded by Omar Bailey, former head of the Yeezy-Adidas Innovation Lab, and Abhishek Som, a former Wall Street and private equity executive, FCTRY LAB is changing how sneakers are made and sold. Their goal is to make production faster, fairer, and more accessible for designers.
Speeding up sneaker production
With enhanced technology, FCTRY LAB has cut sneaker development time from the usual 8-12 months down to just 1-3 months. This means designers and brands can bring their ideas to life much faster.
Their Los Angeles facility manages the entire process, from design to production to shipping. By keeping everything in-house, they ensure high quality while reducing costs and delays. This model challenges the old system, where big brands control the market and take most of the profits.
Collaborations and cultural impact
With FCTRY LAB making waves in the sneaker world. Their partnership with rapper NLE Choppa led to the creation of the bold yellow Duck Boot, which quickly went viral. The boot gained massive attention after appearing on influencer Kai Cenat’s live streams, further proving FCTRY LAB’s influence on sneaker culture.
Empowering creators and consumers
At its core, FCTRY LAB is about empowering designers. Instead of big companies taking the credit (and the profits), FCTRY LAB gives creators a bigger stake in their work. This allows for fresh, unique sneaker designs that truly reflect the people who make them.
Consumers also benefit—by supporting brands like FCTRY LAB, they get access to innovative, high-quality footwear while helping to reshape the industry.
Key takeaways
Shifting power: FCTRY LAB is changing the sneaker business by giving creators more ownership and control.
Cultural impact: Collaborations with artists like NLE Choppa prove that independent sneaker brands can create viral, in-demand products.
Support the movement: By choosing brands that prioritize creators, consumers can help build a more fair and diverse sneaker industry.
FCTRY LAB’s success is a sign that the future of footwear is changing—putting power back where it belongs: in the hands of the creators.