Q&A With The Former Head of Yeezy-Adidas On Creating FCTRY LAb

Decerry Donato

Decerry Donato is a reporter at dot.LA. Prior to that, she was an editorial fellow at the company. Decerry received her bachelor's degree in literary journalism from the University of California, Irvine. She continues to write stories to inform the community about issues or events that take place in the L.A. area. On the weekends, she can be found hiking in the Angeles National forest or sifting through racks at your local thrift store.

Q&A With The Former Head of Yeezy-Adidas On Creating FCTRY LAb
Photo credit: Carlos Acosta

On Wednesday, Los Angeles-based footwear prototyping lab FCTRY LAb raised $6 million in funding. Co-founded by the former head of Yeezy-Adidas Innovation Lab Omar Bailey and former Wall Street executive Abhishek Som, the lab will help independent designers cut down the time it takes for their designs to reach the market. Traditionally, it takes 8 to 12 months to bring a sneaker into production, but FCTRY LAb touts that they can do the same amount of work in one to three months.


The funding will be used to build out the lab, purchase tech equipment like 3D printers and continue growing the team. The round was led by Slauson & Co and other investors who participated include the co-founder of Tinder, co-founder of WeWork, the West Coast Head of Warburg Pincus, a number of NBA & NFL stars among others.

In 2019, Bailey led the Innovation Lab at Yeezy-Adidas for three years where he worked on bridging the gap between conceptual designs and physically wearable footwear for the brand as Yeezy continued to become a household name.

Bailey claims that FCTRY LAb will help democratize sneaker production and provide independent designers the opportunity to grow, create their own products and bring them to market. He spoke with dot.LA about his journey and the future of designing sneakers.

What was your experience like working at Adidas?

I received a call from Adidas and I was actually living in India at the time. I was wrapping up some work that I was doing out there with a brand where I was helping them run part of their shoe factory in addition to their sample lab for shoes that we are bringing to market to sell and Adidas reached out because they got a hold of my CV. They basically said we felt like you have the pedigree to run a facility for Yeezy because Kanye West didn't want to wait for samples and prototypes that come from China anymore. They(Adidas) knew that I had this very unique hybrid experience that they felt that I could fit that role. So my job was to run this domestic facility and bring these ideas and concepts to physical form so that they can be scaled and taken to market.

What inspired you to start your own innovation lab?

I started drawing sneakers at the age of seven. It was really out of the violence and crime that came around in the early 90s with Air Jordan shoes. There's actually a famous Sports Illustrated article that says “Your Life or Your Shoes,” and I have that on my phone to this day and look at it from time to time. It was that moment that scared the shit out of my parents. They didn't want to buy me the shoes as a result of that and so I started drawing sneakers just out of pure necessity, if I couldn't have the physical shoes, then I could draw them on paper.

quote from head of FCTRY Labs Andria Moore

What will FCTRY LAb be doing?

We're building independent brands that live within our company, and they all sort of live and breathe on their own. We are able to empower those creators to own a bigger piece of the pie than they would have gotten with a big brand, which is basically non-existent. They would be restricted to a single-digit royalty if they were lucky. We are looking to assist those who have the ambition to start their own brands and build their own products and take it to market and we get a little piece of every single one.

What is an enabled footwear innovation lab?

It means that we have the ability to do all the heavy lifting and prototyping for footwear. What I mean by that is, a lot of people think that a factory is an end all be all with development. But the factory's job is to take a concept and scale it. They don't want to sit with a creator and watch them create a design. They have no interest in that. That's what we do. We're able to define the product through its design, through its method of production in the lab. And essentially what we're doing is we're developing the answers to the test that can then be handed off to a factory so that they can scale it and take it to mass production.

Can you share who FCTRY LAb will be partnering with?

We have some big names that I can tell that you are definitely very familiar with. We also have big-time athletes who have won recent Super Bowls, to entertainers and celebrities who, at one point were probably some of the most famous people on the planet.

Why did you position your lab in Los Angeles?

L.A. is the center of the universe for footwear right now. Adidas set up a massive 90,000-square-foot facility in downtown L.A. It was obvious to put it here. I just love it and I moved here three and a half years ago and man, I love this place.

Given your experience, what in your opinion are the qualities in a shoe that makes it trendy and sellable?

Comfort is obviously important. People bring that up, but honestly, I've always believed that it starts with what it looks like and the design. Very early on in my career, one of the things I learned was, how to create a silhouette that looks interesting enough for someone who walks into a retail store. There are 50 other shoes on the wall, so how do you make somebody walk toward that one among the rest? It always starts with the design, the aesthetic, the shape and the form. As that draws someone in even closer, they start to see, feel and touch even more details on the shoe. If there's a way for you to tie a story to it, it makes it even better.

LA’s Data Center Supply Crunch

🔦 Spotlight

Happy Friday Los Angeles!

The Los Angeles data center market is experiencing a significant supply crunch, ranking 12th in growth among top markets since 2020 with only 265 megawatts of colocation inventory (data centers where businesses rent space to store their computing hardware and servers). Despite this, demand is surging, driven by AI, cloud, and hyperscaler needs, with AI accounting for 20% of new data center demand nationally. This scarcity is creating a highly competitive environment, with vacancy rates at a record low 3% and asking rents rising 13-37% year-over-year. For Los Angeles, this presents both challenges and opportunities in the big picture. The city's strategic position as a global entertainment hub and its connectivity to international markets through subsea cables make it an attractive location for data centers. However, the limited inventory and rising costs could potentially hinder growth and innovation in the tech sector. To maintain its competitive edge, Los Angeles will need to address these constraints through new developments, such as GI Partners' 16 MW addition at One Wilshire, and by focusing on high-connectivity, high-power capacity submarkets. The city's tech community should prepare for a landscape of increased competition for quality data center space, higher costs, and the need for innovative solutions to meet growing demand, particularly in AI and cloud services. While Los Angeles faces a challenging data center supply crunch, its strategic advantages and ongoing developments offer a promising path forward.


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Daisy, a one-year-old startup that designs and installs smart home and office technology systems, raised a $7M Series B co-led by Goldcrest and Bungalow, with previous investors Bullish and Burst Capital also stepping up. The company has raised a total of $13.3 million. - learn more

LA Venture Funds


    ✨ Featured Event ✨

    LA TECH CEO SUMMIT

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    🌐Decentralizing Data & Vacations: Sony's Web3 Leap and Sensible Weather's KOA Partnership

    🔦 Spotlight

    Happy Long Weekend Los Angeles!

    Sony Group is making a significant push into the blockchain and Web3 space, leveraging its Sony Pictures and Sony Music divisions along with a new global incubator. The company has developed the Soneium blockchain through Sony Block Solutions Labs, a joint venture aimed at accelerating Web3 innovation. Sony is launching the "Soneium Minato" public testnet and a developer incubation program called "Soneium Spark" to foster ecosystem growth and adoption. The initiative includes strategic partnerships with Web3 companies such as Astar Network, Circle, and Optimism. Sony aims to create a fan community centered on creators and connect diverse values through Soneium, with the ultimate goal of integrating Web3 services into people's daily lives. While the company acknowledges the challenges faced by Web3, including limited user adoption and the need for mainstream use cases, it remains committed to decentralizing the concentrated power of the current internet landscape.

    In completely unrelated and more digestible news Sensible Weather, a leading weather protection provider that we’ve featured many times, has partnered with Kampgrounds of America (KOA) to offer Weather Guarantees at over 450 KOA Campgrounds across the United States. This collaboration allows campers to purchase weather protection for their outdoor experiences, providing peace of mind and potential reimbursements of up to 100% of their nightly rate if weather conditions exceed predefined parameters. The partnership comes at an opportune time, as camping has seen a significant increase in popularity, with active campers growing by 68% over the past decade. If you are looking to do some camping this fall make sure you look into Sensible Weather protections to ensure that unpredictable weather won't dampen (nailed it) your camping experience.


    🤝 Venture Deals

    LA Companies

    • Space and Time, a blockchain data warehouse developer, raised a $20M Series A led by Framework Ventures. - learn more
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    LA Venture Funds

    • Fika Ventures led a $4.55M Seed Round for Revenew, a San Francisco startup that aims to help digital platforms and marketplaces manage their payments and optimize financial operations. - learn more
    • Bonfire Ventures participated in a $25M Series A for Supio, an AI platform for personal injury law firms. - learn more
    • Amplify LA participated in a $2M Seed Round for Pryzm, a startup that provides tools and data to help businesses navigate government contracting more efficiently. - learn more

      ✨ Featured Event ✨

      LA TECH CEO SUMMIT

      LA’s tech leadership is set to reunite after a long break! This two day summit will focus on building strong connections, sharing insights, and fortifying the local tech community.

      Learn More Here

      Register Here


      Download the dot.LA App

      Personality Assessments Improving Workplace Dynamics

      Misunderstandings can have significant and sometimes severe impacts, far beyond the hilarious cake pictured above. Many organizations are increasingly using personality assessments to improve team dynamics and productivity. Tests like the Enneagram, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and DISC assessment are valuable tools for developing existing teams in addition to hiring new employees. These assessments provide insights into team members' motivations, communication styles, and work preferences, helping colleagues understand each other better. By highlighting the different personalities within a team, these tests can enhance communication, resolve conflicts, and optimize task assignments based on individual strengths. As companies aim for greater efficiency and collaboration, the Enneagram, MBTI, and DISC assessments are becoming essential for transforming established teams into more effective and cohesive units.


      Image Source: iEQ9

      Enneagram

      The Enneagram test is a sophisticated personality assessment that categorizes individuals into nine distinct personality types, each defined by unique motivations, fears,and behavioral patterns. This holistic approach enhances team dynamics in a business setting by fostering self-awareness, improving communication, and facilitating conflict resolution among team members. By understanding different personality types, teams can optimize their composition, tailor professional development, and create a more empathetic and collaborative environment. This framework not only helps leaders adapt their styles to better support diverse team members but also promotes inclusivity and effective collaboration, ultimately leading to improved team performance, productivity, and retention.

      Resources:iEQ9. We recommend getting an Enneagram coach to get the most out of the results.

      Key Features: Focus on core motivations. Accounts for personality shifts under stress or growth. Offers practical, actionable guidance for personal growth. Uses a dynamic, adaptive questioning approach. Claims 95% accuracy rate through advanced techniques.


      Image Source: DiSC Profile

      DiSC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness)

      The DiSC assessment is a widely used behavioral analysis tool that categorizes individuals into four primary personality types: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. For businesses, DiSC provides valuable insights into employees' communication styles, work preferences, and motivations. By understanding these behavioral tendencies, teams can improve collaboration, reduce conflicts, and enhance overall productivity. Implementing DiSC in a business setting can lead to more effective leadership, tailored communication strategies, and optimized task allocation based on individual strengths.

      Resources:DiSC Profile.

      Key Features: Designed specifically for workplace applications. Focuses on observable behaviors rather than psychological traits. Widely researched and validated over 40+ years. Provides practical strategies for improving interactions.


      Image Source: The Myers-Briggs Company

      The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

      The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a widely used personality assessment tool that categorizes individuals into 16 distinct personality types based on four dichotomies: Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, and Judging/Perceiving. For businesses, the MBTI provides valuable insights into employees' communication styles, decision-making processes, and work preferences.This helps promote a more productive workplace, and enables employees to become involved in more meaningful ways, all while leveraging everyone’s unique strengths.

      Resources:The Myers-Briggs Company.

      Key Features: Focuses on preferences rather than traits. Focuses on how people perceive and judge information. Widely used in business and career counseling


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