{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/69702993675fd45d3a8c9d87/6a17f6608fd07475b55476aa?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"What Makes a Great Sneaker? With APL founders Adam and Ryan Goldston","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/69702993675fd45d3a8c9d87/1780792630673-d414811f-fea0-4c03-87c2-8026b99cda39.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Sneakers used to be one of two things: performance or fashion. Somewhere in the last decade, that line collapsed — and the shoes most of us are reaching for now sit firmly in the middle.</p><p><br></p><p>I'm joined by Adam and Ryan Goldston, founders of APL and the first members of an athletic company ever inducted into the CFDA, for a conversation on how they ushered in the era of the fashion sneaker. From getting banned by the NBA for their first shoe to landing in Selfridges, Net-a-Porter, and Saks before anyone else was selling performance product in those rooms, Adam and Ryan share how a clear point of view — and a refusal to use logos — built one of the most distinctive sneaker brands in the world.</p><p><br></p><p>We get into world-building beyond product, why they believe taste is their real superpower and the consumer shift toward quieter, design-led pieces.</p><p><br></p><p>Shop APL <a href=\"https://www.athleticpropulsionlabs.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.athleticpropulsionlabs.com/</a></p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, we get into:</p><ul><li>What actually set the stage for the era of the fashion sneaker</li><li>Why being inducted into the CFDA in 2016 was a turning point for the entire sneaker industry</li><li>The decision to launch in Selfridges, Net-a-Porter, and Saks before anyone else was selling performance in luxury rooms</li><li>Why APL refuses to use big, emblazoned logos — and how that built a stronger brand</li><li>The rise of the personal brand and why consumers don't want to be walking advertisements anymore</li><li>What \"simple, yet severe\" actually means as a design philosophy</li><li>Inside the APL flagship at The Grove and why it feels more like a gallery than a store</li><li>Why building a brand world still requires a physical experience in an increasingly digital age</li><li>Ralph Lauren as the singular blueprint for world-building — and the moment they found out Ralph himself is an APL fan</li><li>Why Adam and Ryan consider taste their real superpower (and how to cultivate it)</li><li>The relationship between taste, bravery, and confidence</li><li>The Tokyo trip and the souffle pancakes that inspired the ZipLine midsole</li><li>Why texture — both tactile and visual — is the most important element of a perfect sneaker</li><li>The rise of the luxury basic and why consumers are investing in staples right now</li><li>How the F1 partnership in 2016 shaped APL's global luxury performance positioning</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Thank you to my partners at Macy’s for my newest wardrobe essentials. Shop my selects here! <a href=\"https://shopmy.us/collections/5681436\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://shopmy.us/collections/5681436</a> #Macyspartner</p><p><br></p>","author_name":"Liv Perez"}