Athletic Propulsion Labs
{{Short description|American footwear company}}
Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL) is an American clothing company that specializes in sneakers. Its first shoe, the APL Concept 1, was banned from the National Basketball Association (NBA) for providing an undue competitive advantage.
History
APL was founded in 2009 by Adam and Ryan Golston, identical twins, and is based in Los Angeles.{{cite news |last1=Allaire |first1=Christian |title=Inside Cult Sneaker Brand APL’s First New York Store |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/apl-opens-first-new-york-store |access-date=May 18, 2025 |work=Vogue |date=November 8, 2023}} The company was started when the Golstons were students and athletes at the University of Southern California. Its first shoe, the APL Concept 1, included eight compression springs to give extra vertical jump height to the wearer. After advertising the shoe in a double-page Slam magazine advertisement, many NBA players, agents, relatives, and the league itself reached out to the company to learn more. The NBA in 2010 banned the Concept 1 from all league functions, including games, for providing an undue competitive advantage; it was the first time the league had banned a sneaker model for performance reasons. Many NBA and WNBA players bought the Concept 1 shoes anyway, and the company continued to produce performance and luxury apparel from then on.{{cite news |last1=Rashed |first1=Kareem |title=The NBA Banned This Performance-Enhancing Sneaker 10 Years Ago. Now It’s Back and Better Than Ever. |url=https://robbreport.com/style/footwear/apl-superfuture-and-concept-x-1234575827/ |access-date=May 18, 2025 |work=Robb Report |date=October 19, 2020}}
APL has two flagship retail stores: one at The Grove at Farmers Market in LA, which opened in 2019,{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Jeena |title=Athletic Propulsion Labs founders on creating an independent luxury performance shoe brand |url=https://www.retailbrew.com/stories/2022/10/31/athletic-propulsion-labs-founders-on-creating-an-independent-luxury-performance-shoe-brand |access-date=May 18, 2025 |work=Retail Brew |date=October 31, 2022 |language=en-us}} and one in SoHo, Manhattan, which opened in 2023. Their products are also sold at Nordstrom, Selfridges, Net-A-Porter, Shopbop, Lane Crawford, and Harvey Nichols.
Endorsements and sponsorships
Sofia Richie and members of the Kardashian family are fans of APL shoes. Oprah Winfrey named the APL Lusso Slides to her 2021 Oprah's Favorite Things list.{{cite news |last1=Norris |first1=Rebecca |title=Oprah’s Favorite Slides Also Come in a Sneaker, and They’re the Ultimate Everyday Shoe |url=https://www.wellandgood.com/shopping/apl-techloom-dream |access-date=May 18, 2025 |work=Well+Good |date=October 26, 2023 |language=en}} The company has partnered with Nastia Liukin to release limited-edition sneakers in 2021 and 2024.{{cite news |last1=Lassner |first1=Erin |title=Olympic Gold Medalist Nastia Liukin and APL Drop Parisian-Inspired Collection After First Sneaker Collab Sells Out |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/shopping/nastia-liukin-apl-athletic-shoe-collection-1235961261/ |access-date=May 18, 2025 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=July 29, 2024}} John Cena has been seen at WWE events and public appearances in APL sneakers.{{cite news |last1=Vlahos |first1=Nicholas |title=John Cena Turns Heel at Elimination Chamber 2025 Wearing the APL TechLoom Pro |url=https://www.soleretriever.com/news/articles/john-cena-turns-heel-elimination-chamber-2025-apl-techloom-pro-sneakers-march-2025 |access-date=May 18, 2025 |work=Sole Retriever |date=March 3, 2025 |language=en}}
APL is the official footwear partner for Red Bull Racing; Formula One driver Sergio Pérez has been seen wearing the company's sneakers.{{cite news |last1=Johnston |first1=Rylee |title=F1 Star Sergio Pérez Embraces Vintage Look in Retro APL Sneakers: Here’s Where to Buy the Exact Pair Online |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/product-recommendations/sergio-perez-red-bull-apl-shoes-buy-online-1235707295/ |access-date=May 18, 2025 |work=Billboard |date=June 12, 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official site|https://www.athleticpropulsionlabs.com}}
Category:Clothing companies based in Los Angeles
Category:Shoe companies of the United States