Louis Colon Tells us Why FILA is Back and Here to Stay

Louis attended Northeastern University where he eventually dropped out to start his own sneaker magazine, Kicksclusive, as well as a women’s sneaker store called Laces. The Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn native says the early exposure to sneaker and hip-hop culture was invaluable, shaping his passion for working in the footwear industry. After the 2008 Financial Crisis, he called it quits on his businesses and racked up half a million dollars in debt. Desperate for work and steady income, Louis began party-promoting until he found a temporary job at PF Flyers, where he gained his knowledge of product development. At this time, FILA underwent new ownership with FILA Korea and began focusing on a rebrand. In 2009, Louis accepted an offer as a lifestyle developer at FILA, which would begin his decade-long journey under the guidance of the late Jon Epstein to flip the brand into the mainstay it is today. From collaborating with Fendi, to relaunching the Grant Hill II and winning FN’s 2018 “Shoe of the Year” award, Louis says the brand relied on a three-tier strategy: street & emerging, high-end fashion, and mall. In order to break every market, they understood the importance of authentic collaborations and diverse genres. Louis credits much of FILA’s success to Jon’s openness and ability to see the long-term benefits of properly-aligned collaborations. Reflecting on the past decade, he says the business and its success is “an homage” to him. https://hypebeast.com/radio https://podcasts.a