I understand LaVar Ball’s premise.
People will pay outlandish amounts of money for very mundane looking things. For example a belt is designed to keep your pants up.
You can get one at Marshalls for $9.99, but people will buy an $800 Gucci Belt just because it is Gucci.
The problem as I see it for LaVar is people have to believe that wearing your clothes or sneakers are a luxury. That it will give you status in the streets so to speak.
In sneaker culture, that means will people see the BBB as something so unique it is a must have like a Yeezy or a retro Jordan.
Time will tell, here is his explanation to Dan LeBatard why the sneakers and slides are so much. USA Today transcribes.
On the $495 price point.
“I figured that’s what the shoe is worth. I like the way it sounds. You see, when you’re your own owner, you can come up with any price you want, how high you feel it is.”
On the why the slides are $220.
“Why is that excessive? Prada and Gucci [are] selling theirs for what they want. My sandal looks better than that, it feels better. … This stuff right here is symbolic. And that comes with a price. No one’s ever come into the game with their own brand. My son has his own slider and his own shoe! Before he even touched the floor as a rookie. And guess what? He designed all of it!”
The only real concern I’d have is who is financing all this. Because if it is Lonzo and his furture NBA money, that is putting his money at risk if this goes belly up.
Time will tell if this is a success or not.
Flip the page for the full video of interview…