Redfoo

It began innocently enough, at this year’s official Backstage Gift Lounge for the 52nd Annual GRAMMY® Awards. Lots of stars were stopping by, and virtually everyone was excited to see the new light ups from LA Gear Originals.

Then LMFAO showed up. It takes something special to get DJ/Rappers Redfoo and Sky Blu excited. Nominated for Best Electronic/Dance Album with “Party Rock” (Interscope), the LA-based group has had hits with the singles ”I’m in Miami Trick,” “La la la,” and “Shots” and provided the opening theme to Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami and Jersey Shore. And they’ve “broken” Mitt Romney’s hair.

But when the guys saw the LA Gear Lights, they went off. The son and nephew, respectively, of Motown founder Berry Gordy, Redfoo and Sky Blu grew up in LA and have been at the center of popular culture their whole lives. They used to rock the LA Tech light ups back in the day, and lit up at the chance to rock em again.

“They loved the White/Silver Lights, but they were wishing we had the Gold/Pink in mens,” says LA Gear Director of Specialty Product Lance Jackson. “Then they saw a photo of the Purple Lights, which are coming out soon, and loved those.” So Lance took care of business, and made the group Gold/Pink and Purple Lights in their sizes.

Sky Blu

LMFAO have been rocking the Lights in concert on their tour with the Black Eyed Peas. And Redfoo wore the Purple Light Ups during the filming of the new video they shot for  “Get Out of Your Mind,” featuring Lil John.

We ran into them at Jamie Foxx’s GRAMMY after-party, where we provided Lights to 100 VIPs, and where the group rocked the house with an impromptu set onstage with Jamie. “Redfoo and Sky Blu are huge fans of the brand, and I know thet want to create their own line with LA Gear some day,” Lance relates. “We’ll make it happen.”

We’ll have another opportunity to see LMFAO and their Lights next month: the guys will be co-headlining The Bamboozle Roadshow 2010 between May and June 2010. Co-headlining with the two are All Time Low, Boys Like Girls, and Third Eye Blind. Among the numerous other supporting bands are: 3OH!3, Good Charlotte, Forever The Sickest Kids, Cartel, and Simple Plan.

Listen to LMFAO Radio

But gifting suites aren’t really about swag. They’re about the energy and celebration of award season, and they”re a chance for the stars and a handful of interesting brands to kick back, have a shot (or two) of premium tequila (or really hi-end sparkling water), and enjoy life. Whether it’s one of this year’s nominees, a past nominee like Julianne Moore, a multiple EMMY-winner like Bill Shatner (and his lovely wife Elizabeth), or NBA legend like John Salley, everyone who stopped by to hang with the LA Gear crew had a great time.

John Schneider (Dukes of Hazard) told us about his new series, set in the world of golf; Sheryl Lee Ralph told us all about her DIVA Foundation; and Scott Baio was reminded of the time LA Gear and Michael Jackson came to shoot a commercial on the Universal set where he was working (more on that when we interview Scott soon).

The stars that lit up the Rodeo Room came away not only with some Lights, but with a sense of what makes this brand tick.and why so many people are digging the fact that ACI and Sportie LA brought it back.

The (LA Tech) LA Gear Lights are currently available at all Sportie LA stores in Los Angeles and San Diego, and online at sneaker website www.SportieLA.com.

MyFace.com Gives Props to LA Lights for William Shatner @ The Oscars

Sons of Lights Inventor Talk Tech in SLAM Mag 4-10

Aspiring Minimalist 4-10 Recalls His Sis Aspiring to LA Lights

Yak Attack Kicks Off 2010 with LA Lights

Sneaker Freaker Best of the Best of 09!

News from November-December, 2009: The LA Gear Lights are finally back, and it’s no surprise that people are talkin:

Thrillist Says Wear LA Gear Lights

Topix of the Day: LA Gear Lights

Sweater Junkie’s Got a Jones for the Lights

Fresh Prince and LA Lights

Get Schooled by the Teacher and Get LA Gear Lights

How Tweet it is…all LA Gear Lights

International Business Time Talks LA Lights

Just Envee Just Happy to See Lights

Nadine Shows LA Lights Shopping Spree

9 Grand Notes the Return of the Lights

Hoop China Covers LA Gear Lights

The Worlds Best Ever Rocks Lights Own the Night Poster

Luxury4Play Has the Lights On

Dear Whoever Sends Letter to Lights

Air 23 Takes a Break from Nike to Tout LA Lights

MISS Gives Lights Some Extra Pizzazz

UpTempoAir Forum Likes Lights for the Holidays

Whats Fresh? LA Gear Lights

Uptowns Says Wtf Here Come the Lights

RealTalkNYC Talks LA Gear Lights

Street Level Covers Lights Early Release

Sneaker Obsession Spotting LA Gear Lights

Sole Collector Suggests Black Friday Presale for Lights

Sneaker Files Open Their Books for LA Lights

The Vine Says Light Me Up

Kicks on Fire with LA Lights

Sneaker Society Shows LA Gear is Lighting Up the International Community

Some of the latest news:

September 16, 2009 – LA Gear gets the Delux treatment:

Delux Singles Out Sportie LA for LA Gear

August 25, 2009 – Cal’s Patrick Christopher shares his love of the Lights, but he wants em all to himself!

Cal Guard Pat Christopher Talks LA Gear Lights on SI.com

August 19, 2009 – More love for the Stardust and the updated Unstoppable line – the hits just keep on comin’!

LA Gear Relaunch-Stardust-on Synamatic

August 18, 2009 – LA Gear Stardust Sighting on SyNaMATIQ Apparel Blog:

LA Gear Makes a Relaunch After the 90s

August 1, 2009 – Here’s a little update on the buzz around the Lights:

LA Gear Lights Preview on The Vine

LA Gear Lights Preview on Sneaker Freaker

When ACI and Sportie LA teamed up in December 08 to relaunch the Unstoppable line from 1989-90, we knew there’d be excitement. We were excited about it, that’s why we created LaGearNews.

But the response has been so cool that we wanted to share some of it with you. From an early article on NiceKicks.com to FN checking in with Sportie LA’s Isack Fadlon about his store’s opening in San Diego the other day, LA Gear is on the minds and lips of people in the know, and from what we’re seeing the LA Lights are gonna be the point where things just go nuts.

Anyway, you can check out all the chatter here, but in the meantime, we’ll do our best to keep you up to date on the new Unstoppable line, the Lights, and a certain line that people really want LA Gear to bring back but which we don’t have any further info on yet!

Peace.

For one day this week, I was the beneficiary of one such phenomenon – the new light up shoes from LA Gear.

We’ve been talking about the LA Lights for about a year now. We’ve shown pictures of the
shoes as they were being developed and tested, shared info about colors and materials, shown amateur videos made by fans of the brand, and even made our own sneak peak videos. But until a few days ago, I’d never actually watched them work.

And the Lights work. To be more precise, they WORK IT. I’d been wearing the Lights here and there, to meetings, or to lunch. But I chose Las Vegas to officially “debut” my olive/green LA Techs:
Vegas is a city full of gorgeous women, slot machine bells, and flashing lights. So I knew that if I could get noticed HERE, these sneakers were working.

When you’re going about your business – and my business this week was gambling and drinking – it’s easy to forget that your shoes are lighting up with every step.

But when you’re line dancing at Stoneys it’s hard NOT to be
noticed in your Lights. In fact, everyone in Vegas – from the tourists to the casino dealers to our beautiful and vivacious friends at StripSteak in the Mandalay Bay – never forgot I was wearing these shoes. And they never forgot to comment. The comment heard most often was “Can you hook me up?”

So, yes – I hooked up some new friends with LA Lights. And yes, they now love me whereas before they might have just dug me a little bit.

So, maybe my 24 hours as a VIP gets parlayed into 24 more. What’s wrong with that?

On this magazine alone, you can see comment after comment expressing the same sentiment.

The impact of Michael Jackson on global popular culture is more evident than ever before. His passing has underscored a love and admiration that spanned his 50 years on this planet – and will clearly carry on for eons to come.

We have just come across a petition to bring the Michael Jackson shoe collection back, and we can’t say we’re surprised. It’s on a blog called ThePetitionSite.com, and as you can see from other petitions on the site, it’s a pretty powerful tool.

We’ll keep our eye on this one, and keep yallz updated on developments at LA Gear. Something tells us this won’t be the only petition that pops up in support of a shoe revival from the King of Pop!

The iconic brand, which returned to prominence with its LA Gear Originals launch last year, will be providing its latest LA Gear shoes to a mix of hot Hollywood talent and industry legends at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel. Former Oscar Winners and Nominees, Present Oscar Nominees and Presenters, major Movie stars, and TV stars visiting the gifting suite in search of Oscar swag will have a chance to rock the popular new limited run LA Gear Lights, currently available at all Sportie LA stores in Los Angeles and San Diego, and online at sneaker website www.SportieLA.com.

LA Gear is in good company at the Oscar Gifting Suite, where invited guests will get to experience some of the most coveted and distinctive brands around, from Swarz Los Angeles evening-wear and Taber Studio accessories to outrageous, rock n’ roll jewelry from Bejeweled.

“It’s amazing how today’s young stars seem to respond with affection when they hear the name LA Gear,” said Director of Specialty Product Lance Jackson. “We were recently involved with the GRAMMYs and the reaction was amazing. We’re a part of Los Angeles culture, as are The Oscars, and we’re excited to be part of this celebration.”

The gifting suite will be open from 10AM to 6PM. The 82nd Academy Awards will be broadcast live, Sunday, March 7, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET.

About LA Gear Lights and LA Gear Originals
On the heels of their successful launch of LA Gear Originals – which featured updated styles from the Unstoppable line, ’89-’90 – LA Gear brand-owner ACI and top Los Angeles indie sneaker store chain Sportie LA released a new line of LA Gear Lights. Reviving and updating its legendary LA Tech light ups from the early 90s, LA Gear is presenting limited quantities of the new sneakers. Mens Lights come in White/Silver, Green/Olive, Black/Purple, and Blue. Womens Lights come in two colors, Red and Gold.

Jamie Foxx rocked them in Blue.

Young stars and industry legends dug the new light up shoes:

Justin Bieber went for the Black/Purple Lights. Miranda Lambert and Kate Voegele were going Gold. Smokey Robinson took a liking to Green/Olive.

Traditionally, stars want something they won’t find just anywhere, and they definitely came to the right place! Reviving and updating its legendary LA Tech light ups from the early 90s, the LA Lights dropped December ’09, and have been sold exclusively at Sportie LA stores in Los Angeles and San Diego, and online at sneaker website SportieLA.com/lagear. That’s it. Nowhere else. Until this week.

“We really responded to the vibe in the lounge,” said Isack Fadlon, co-owner of Sportie LA, which partnered with LA Gear brand-owner ACI a little over a year ago to launch LA Gear Originals – featuring updated styles from the Unstoppable line, ’89-’90… and, now, this new line of LA Gear Lights. “It was a great setting and an opportunity to show off the new LA Lights – and to put them on people who are very particular about style.”

The GRAMMYs air live on CBS at 8p.m. (ET/PT)…let’s see who lights up Staples Center tonight!

“One of the reasons we’re so happy to be involved in the launch
of LA Gear Originals is the brand’s commitment to its hometown of Los Angeles,” says Isack Fadlon, co-owner of Sportie LA. “The event on Sunday re-enforced that commitment, and also demonstrated LA Gear’s support of the next generation, in this case, kids from all over the world.”

Fadlon is referring to the LA Lights Rhythmic Gymnastics Invitational, of which LA Gear was this year’s Official Footwear Sponsor. As you can see from these photos, this year’s competition was a pretty amazing event, with 500 professional athletes from all over the world coming to LA to strut their stuff on the last step on the road to the World Cup in Montreal. Melitina Staniouta, Liubou Charkashyna, Nataliya Leshchyk, and Katsiaryna Halkina were just a few of the Olympians on the list of outstanding athletes participating in the LA Lights event.

For many years, the Los Angeles School of Gymnastics has been hosting the world’s top
Olympic hopefuls in Rhythmic Gymnastics, a hybrid of acrobatics and classic Russian ballet. The sport got its start back in the 1940s; it’s now one of the official events of the Summer Olympic Games and is the fastest growing sport amongst American teenage females. To show its support for these young stars of USA gymnastics, LA Gear presented 2010′s 40 category winners with its newly released LA Lights shoes.

Fadlon was on hand for the competition and the awards ceremony, along with LA Gear Director of Specialty Product Lance Jackson.

To make sure no one went home empty-handed, all of the competitors were treated to specially produced LA Gear t-shirts. These were a big hit with the gymnasts, who were excited to bring the shirts back to their native countries, which included China, Russia, Belarus, and New Zealand.

“Even though many of the girls didn’t speak English, their expressions said it all,” Fadlon says.
 
The LA Lights went on sale in December 2009, at all Sportie LA stores in Los Angeles and San Diego, and online at sneaker website www.SportieLA.com/lagear.

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Yet another reason to be proud of our community – way to go, LA!