It’s been a long time coming, but as of this Friday you’ll be able to walk into a Champs store and pick up a pair of BD Dooms.
Li-Ning announced on Sunday (Aug. 8 — 8.08 is a lucky day in Chinese culture) that they’re officially launching their partnership of the U.S. launch of the Baron Davis sportswear collection.
From a lucky day to a notoriously unlucky one, in Friday the 13th, the BD Doom shoe and its apparel will be available across select west coast Champs Sports stores. The shoes and apparel will also be available at Champs online and at Eastbay.com
You can read a lot more about Li-Ning and their future plans in the upcoming KICKS issue — a story that I’ll vouch for, since I wrote it. KICKS will hit newsstands next week. As we always do, we’ll be giving you a peak at the cover shortly before that.
For additional info, check the release that Li-Ning sent out.
Li-Ning USA and Champs Sports Team Up
U.S. Athletic Specialty Retailer to Feature Lines From China’s Leading Sportswear Company
August 8, 2010, Portland, Ore.—Li Ning Company Limited (“Li Ning” or the “Group”; HKSE stock code: 2331) and Champs Sports (a Division of Foot Locker, Inc.; NYSE: FL) are pleased to announce their partnership in the U.S. launch of the Baron Davis sportswear collection. Beginning on Friday, August 13, the “BD Doom” line of footwear and apparel will be available in select Champs Sports stores,
located primarily along the west coast. Named after and designed in part by NBA All-Star Baron Davis, the BD Collection includes both performance and lifestyle footwear and attire. This high-performance and stylish assortment will also be offered online at Champssports.com and Eastbay.com, both divisions of Foot Locker, Inc.
Champs Sports is the first U.S. retailer to partner with one of China’s most popular sportswear
companies. Li-Ning USA opened its North American headquarters in Portland, Ore. in 2008 and its first
American retail store earlier this year at the same site. The Beijing-based company also offers apparel,
footwear and equipment for running, table tennis, badminton, as well as tai chi/ kung fu inspired lifestyle
models.
Champs Sports is one of the largest mall-based specialty athletic footwear and apparel retailers in North America. “Working together with Li-Ning USA has been a great collaboration,” said Jake Jacobs, CEO of Champs Sports.”
“Champs Sports has a rich history of meeting the ‘head to toe’ needs of their customers by providing a total Brand experience, so they are the ideal partner to introduce the Li-Ning Brand to the U.S. market,” said Li-Ning USA’s Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Rick Soberanis.
“Li-Ning is also proud to be working with Los Angeles Clippers guard Baron Davis in this historic U.S. launch,” continued Soberanis. “Davis’ BD Doom footwear blends his own design preferences with unique style along with performance features to meet the demands of Baron’s aggressive style of play.
Distinctively designed lifestyle basketball shoes, performance tops and bottoms, and street-art-inspired graphic t-shirts fill out the collection.” The iconic “Beardman” logo is featured prominently and is a direct likeness of one of basketball’s most engaging players.
“It’s comfortable and fashionable,” said Baron Davis. “To be involved in the creation of my own footwear and clothing line has been an incredible experience. The Li-Ning product quality takes me where I need to go to be stylish and competitive on and off the court, and I’m really excited for this line to hit the stores.”
