Made to Last Podcast

Omar Bailey and Duane Lawrence
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Omar Bailey and Duane Lawrence break down the Xs and Os of the sneaker business and beyond! Special guests include designers, athletes and marketing executives who have all had a hand in shaping the footwear industry. Hear their stories on how they've managed to last in the shoe game, what it takes to launch a successful brand and even go inside of factories abroad. This show is a little less "what are those?" and a little more "how did you make it?" Tune in every week for new discussions. Follow along on Instagram and subscribe to the YouTube channel @madetolastpod

  1. Sep 10

    WHAT'S IN THE BOX? Vol 4: Trent Williams' Hall of Fame Cleats | MADE TO LAST

    WHAT’S IN THE BOX? VOL. 4 — TRENT WILLIAMS’ CUSTOM CLEATS BY FCTRY LABWhat happens when a future Hall of Fame left tackle gets the opportunity to help engineer his own cleat?In Volume 4 of What’s In The Box?, Omar takes us behind the scenes of FCTRY Lab’s work with Trent Williams, developing a custom cleat specifically around his style, foot, and performance needs for the upcoming NFL season.This is more than a customized shoe. It’s an athlete-driven development process—from the performance plate to the fit, upper construction, colorways, and ultimately getting the product approved for the NFL.IN THIS EPISODE:PART 1 — WORKING WITH A HOF LEFT TACKLEOmar explains what makes working directly with an elite athlete so valuable and how Trent’s style and specific performance requests shaped the cleat.PART 2 — PERFORMANCE PLATE DEVELOPMENTThe performance plate became a true 1-on-1 collaboration between Omar and Trent. It’s the level of individualized performance customization that most players simply can't find from the major brands.PART 3 — DEVELOPMENT TIMELINEDespite coordinating multiple schedules, FCTRY Lab took the cleat from concept to training camp in just 7–8 months. 3D foot scans, plate development, and upper pattern adjustments all contributed to a cleat designed to feel “broken in from the moment Trent puts them on,” rather than waiting until the 3rd or 4th quarter.PART 4 — THE NFL APPROVAL PROCESSOmar breaks down the challenges new brands face when getting product onto NFL players, from the approval process to the importance of building relationships with the training staff who work with athletes every day.PART 5 — COOL COLORWAYSWhat can we expect to see on Trent’s feet throughout the season? Omar walks through the upcoming colorways and explains how NFL uniform regulations influence what players can wear on the field.PART 6 — THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PRO ATHLETESFCTRY Lab’s work with athletes like Jalen Ramsey and Trent Williams is creating new possibilities. As more professional athletes see what's possible when they have a direct role in developing their own product, the opportunities for FCTRY Lab continue to grow.The big brands make products for athletes. FCTRY Lab is building products with them.Subscribe to Made to Last for more conversations about footwear, design, innovation, and the people shaping the industry.#WhatsInTheBox #FCTRYLab #TrentWilliams #NFL #FootballCleats #FootwearDesign #ProductDevelopment #FootwearInnovation #MadeToLast #JalenRamsey0:00 - Working With HOF Left Tackle Trent Williams2:10 - Performance Plate Development3:40 - Development Timeline6:27 - The NFL Approval Process8:20 - What Colors Can We Expect?10:30 - The Future of Collaboration for Pro Athletes

    WHAT'S IN THE BOX? Vol 4: Trent Williams' Hall of Fame Cleats | MADE TO LAST

  2. Sep 4

    WHAT'S IN THE BOX? Vol 3: Customizable Cleats for Travon Walker | MADE TO LAST

    WHAT’S IN THE BOX? VOL. 3 — TRAVON WALKER’S CUSTOM CLEATS BY FCTRY LABWhat happens when you design a cleat around the athlete—not the other way around?In Volume 3 of What’s In The Box?, Omar takes us inside the development of a custom cleat for Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker, built specifically around his performance needs.The cleat features a modular plate system capable of producing two different stud lengths from a single mold. That means less time and money in development—and a much easier experience for equipment managers, eliminating the need to constantly swap screw-in spikes.The longer studs are designed to give Travon additional traction when playing in wet and challenging conditions.And the customization doesn't stop at the outsole.Travon also went through FCTRY Lab's 3D foot scanning process, allowing the team to create a custom last shaped specifically around his foot. The result is a more precise fit with less unnecessary space inside the shoe.As Omar puts it, there's no room for that extra “foot juice.” 😂In this episode, we break down how performance, fit, manufacturing efficiency and athlete-specific engineering come together to create a cleat built for the player.This is what happens when the athlete becomes part of the development process.#WhatsInTheBox #FCTRYLab #TravonWalker #Jaguars #NFL #FootballCleats #FootwearDesign #ProductDevelopment #FootwearInnovation #MadeToLast

    WHAT'S IN THE BOX? Vol 3: Customizable Cleats for Travon Walker | MADE TO LAST

  3. Aug 31 ·  Bonus

    WHAT'S IN THE BOX? Vol. 2: Samson Ebukam's Custom OB1 Cleats | MADE TO LAST

    In the latest installment of "What's In The Box?" Omar Bailey breaks down making position-specific shoes for NFL players- from 3D foot scans to personalized colorways. The custom footwear process requires buy-in, trust, communication and a lots of patience to make something special. In this case, Omar takes the classic silhouette of the OB1 from FCTRY Lab and flips for the football field. But he's TORN! Trent Williams, OT, and Samson Ebukam, DE, are both FCTRY Lab athlete partners. Who is Omar going to root for when the 49ers play the Falcons on October 25 in Atlanta?Follow ⁨@FCTRYLab⁩ and ⁨@madetolastpod⁩ to hear more about the custom footwear process. Subscribe to the channel and look out for new episodes of MADE TO LAST.

    WHAT'S IN THE BOX? Vol. 2: Samson Ebukam's Custom OB1 Cleats | MADE TO LAST

  4. Aug 31 ·  Bonus

    WHAT'S IN THE BOX? VOL. 1: Khola | MADE TO LAST

    📦 WHAT'S IN THE BOX? | VOL 1Every box has a story.For Part 1 of our new series, we're opening up a pair from KHOLA—a brand rethinking what happens after a shoe is made. Instead of designing from scratch, KHOLA removes the original sole from existing footwear and rebuilds it using their patented outsole and midsole system, stitching the original upper onto an entirely new foundation.The result? A familiar silhouette with a completely different feel.This pair started life as a classic Clarks shoe. KHOLA gave it a second life.Innovation doesn't always mean creating something new.Sometimes it means looking at something old and asking, "What if?"What should we unbox next?#WhatsInTheBox #KHOLA #FootwearDesign #SneakerDesign #ShoeInnovation

    WHAT'S IN THE BOX? VOL. 1: Khola | MADE TO LAST

  5. Aug 11 ·  Bonus

    ALLBIRDS: When Wings Get Too Big | MADE TO LAST

    What happens when the company you built becomes bigger than you?In this episode of Made to Last, Omar and Duane take us inside the Allbirds story through a personal connection with co-founder Tim Brown. Omar and Tim attended the University of Cincinnati together, years before Tim would go from professional footballer in New Zealand to co-founding one of the most recognizable footwear brands of the last decade.Years later, they reconnected at a founders meeting just as Allbirds was preparing to go public. Tim left Omar with a simple reminder:“Remember when it’s pure.”That idea becomes the starting point for a much bigger conversation about what happens when a founder's passion turns into a company with investors, KPIs, growth targets, and expectations.Omar lays out a difficult truth: If you do your job as a founder and build something truly valuable, eventually you may no longer be needed. The fire that drove you to create the company can ultimately create something that operates without you.So what happens next?We break down the Allbirds case study and explore:• Timing & Culture — Who adopts your brand can be just as important as when you launch it. Did Allbirds' early adoption by Silicon Valley help shape—and ultimately limit—the culture around the brand?• The Danger of Growing Too Fast — Investor pressure can turn growth into an obsession. Feeding the pipeline, chasing ROI, and constantly launching new products can slowly disconnect a brand from what made people care in the first place.• Creativity vs. KPIs — How do designers balance creative ambition with the realities of business? Knowing when to stop can be just as important as knowing what to create.• The Pace of a Brand — There is a difference between the pace of trends and the pace at which a business should grow. Expansion shouldn't dilute the brand or disconnect it from its consumer.• Knowing When Enough Is Enough — More products don't necessarily create more relevance. Without global gravitas, oversaturation can weaken a brand.• Getting Bought Out — Is an exit a failure? Omar shares his perspective on a successful buyout: paying investors back, creating enterprise value, and giving the company the resources to grow.• Building for the Short Term vs. Long Term — There isn't one right answer. The decision to maximize an exit or build for the next decade depends on what you actually want.• The Importance of IP — When a company changes hands, what remains valuable? Brand equity, intellectual property, product innovation, and consumer connection can outlive the original company.And ultimately, the question every founder has to confront:Why am I really doing this? What do I truly want?Because building a company isn't just about how big you can make it.It's about knowing what you're building, why you're building it, and when to protect the thing that made it special in the first place.Made to Last explores the people, products, and ideas shaping the future of design, footwear, culture, and business.2:00 -- Omar’s Connection to Allbirds6:00 -- The Reality of Scaling a Business9:00 -- Investor pressure & feeding the pipeline13:00 -- How to avoid growing too fast19:00 -- Getting bought out & what makes an exit successful24:00 -- Knowing Your Why#MadeToLast #Allbirds #Founders #Entrepreneurship #Footwear #BrandBuilding #Design #Innovation #Startups #Business #IP #creativeleadership See what's new at FCTRY Lab https://fctrylab.com  @FCTRYLab  20 Years of Footwear Design Experience https://duanealawrence.com  @DuaneALawrence  Music by Jonny Cool

    ALLBIRDS: When Wings Get Too Big | MADE TO LAST

  6. Jul 8

    Talking in Circles: Kanye's Design Philosophy | Episode 009 - MADE TO LAST

    ​ @madetolastpod  Before Kanye West took the stage at SoFi Stadium on April 3, 2026, Omar and Duane sat down to unpack one of the most overlooked aspects of Kanye's creative genius—his obsession with the circle.What begins as a conversation about stage design quickly becomes a deep dive into the environments, architecture, and creative processes that shaped one of the most influential design minds of our generation.Omar shares firsthand stories from his years working alongside Kanye, explaining how the circle became a recurring theme throughout the Yeezy ecosystem—from Sunday Service gatherings and design meetings to product presentations and even the architecture of their studios. The conversation explores: - Why Kanye's stage designs continue to set the standard for live performance- The visual similarities between the SoFi Stadium production and the September 2024 Haikou, China performance- How James Turrell's architecture inspired Kanye's creative environments- Why Yeezy meetings were conducted in a circle- The design philosophy behind the circular sample room built in Cody, Wyoming- Building one of the most ambitious creative spaces during the height of COVID—in just six months- How the Cody facility became an incubation lab for experimentation, material exploration, and "concept cars" for footwear- Why learning—not immediate commercial success—was the mission- Omar's recent return to Cody to document the space and reconnect with the people who helped bring the vision to lifeThis episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on how intentional spaces can inspire better ideas, faster iteration, and breakthrough innovation.Stay tuned for exclusive documentary-style footage from Cody, Wyoming, where Omar revisits one of the most unique creative environments ever built.CHAPTERS0:00 — Intro1:00 — Moving Sucks!5:00 — Why Kanye's Live Shows Are Unlike Any Other9:00 — The Circle: Kanye's Defining Design Language11:20 — Building the Circular Studio in Cody, Wyoming13:40 — The Meaning Behind the Circle18:20 — Why Everyone Stood in a Circle20:00 — Inside the Yeezy Design Studio24:00 — Daily Security Reports with Kanye28:00 — Sunday Service: Worship in the Round30:00 — The Beauty and Energy of the Space31:20 — The Lab: Experimentation Over Commercialization34:20 — Behind the Scenes in Cody + Exclusive Footage Coming Soon43:45 — Getting Ready for the SoFi Stadium ExperienceSubscribe for conversations on design, innovation, entrepreneurship, footwear, branding, and the people creating ideas that stand the test of time.#madetolast #KanyeWest #Yeezy #Design #Architecture #JamesTurrell #Innovation #Creativity #FootwearDesign #Storytelling #CodyWyoming

    Talking in Circles: Kanye's Design Philosophy | Episode 009 - MADE TO LAST

  7. May 20

    Innovation vs Imitation: How Retros are Holding Us Back - Episode 008 | MADE TO LAST

    On Episode 008 of Made to Last, Omar joins Duane for a deep conversation on innovation, risk, storytelling, and the realities of building products that actually move culture forward.Omar breaks down what it took to make over 150 investor pitches for FCTRY LAB — and how nearly every room said yes. He talks about learning the language of venture capital, building alongside co-founders with VC expertise, and why the entire process felt like an accelerated MBA experience.The episode dives into one of the biggest tensions in product and brand development today: innovation vs imitation. Omar and Duane discuss how financial targets, timelines, and business pressures often pull companies away from bold ideas and back toward safe decisions — and how that cycle can stunt creativity across the industry.They also explore:• Why logos can completely change the perception of product• The FCTRY LAB Duck Boot as a reinvention of a classic silhouette• Launching the Duck Boot with NLE Choppa and leveraging storytelling tied to Tupac• Using Kai Cenat streams and unconventional rollout strategies to create momentum• Why storytelling is one of the most valuable assets in branding• The risk vs reward of innovation• Why ROI can’t always be the immediate focus when building a brand• The mindset of “give to get”CHAPTERS1:00 — Learning the Language of Venture Capital7:00 — Take the Leap from Yeezy to FCTRY Lab10:45 — Innovation or Imitation13:30 — What Made Yeezy So Innovative17:00 — Retros Are Hurting Innovation in Our Industry21:00 — Logo Executions24:30 — Reinventing a Classic Silhouette27:00 — Launching the Duck Boot with NLE Choppa38:00 — Creating Value in Innovation48:00 — The Basketball Footwear Landscape51:00 — ROI: Patience in Building FCTRY LabSubscribe for more conversations on design, business, culture, innovation, and the people building what lasts.#MadeToLast #FCTRYLAB #Innovation #SneakerIndustry #BrandBuilding #Design #Entrepreneurship #NLEChoppa #KaiCenat #FootwearDesign

    Innovation vs Imitation: How Retros are Holding Us Back - Episode 008 | MADE TO LAST

  8. Apr 30 ·  Bonus

    This golf glove adds 23 yards to your drive! | Epiosde 007.2 - Paul Farah | MADE TO LAST

    #sportstech #golfgloves #footwearindustry #scienceandtechnology In this episode of Made to Last, we’re joined by Paul Farah, who sits down alongside his brother Jo Farah to break down a breakthrough in performance technology: Zyntech Nanocell.Built at the intersection of science, sport, and product innovation, Zyntech is designed to enhance performance across multiple categories — from footwear to golf and beyond.Paul explains how the technology works at a material level, delivering:Shock absorption to reduce impact stressImproved airflow to minimize heat buildupVibration reduction for greater control and feelIncreased surface area to enhance grip and stabilityThe conversation dives into how these principles are being applied in real products — including the development of:A next-generation insole designed to distribute shock and vibration more effectivelyAdvanced grips for tennis and pickleball racquetsA reimagined golf glove that addresses the long-standing limitations of leatherPaul breaks down how traditional leather gloves lose consistency, control, and power over time — and how Zyntech’s material innovation not only improves performance but also delivers measurable results, including the potential to hit the ball up to 23 yards further.Beyond performance, sustainability is a key focus. The glove is washable and reusable, reducing the need for constant replacement and offering a smarter, more responsible approach to product design.This episode is a deep dive into what happens when material science meets sport, and how innovation at the microscopic level can unlock real-world performance gains.🌐 Learn more: https://exo-golf.comSee what's new at FCTRY LAB https://fctrylab.com20 Years of Footwear Design Experience https://duanealawrence.comMusic: Jonny Cool

    This golf glove adds 23 yards to your drive! | Epiosde 007.2 - Paul Farah | MADE TO LAST
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Ratings & Reviews

5
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About

Omar Bailey and Duane Lawrence break down the Xs and Os of the sneaker business and beyond! Special guests include designers, athletes and marketing executives who have all had a hand in shaping the footwear industry. Hear their stories on how they've managed to last in the shoe game, what it takes to launch a successful brand and even go inside of factories abroad. This show is a little less "what are those?" and a little more "how did you make it?" Tune in every week for new discussions. Follow along on Instagram and subscribe to the YouTube channel @madetolastpod

Information

  • Creator
    Omar Bailey and Duane Lawrence
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Omar Bailey and Duane Lawrence
  • Show Website
    Made to Last Podcast