Entertainment
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro is gaining ownership thanks to a new sneaker deal with HOLO Footwear – Andscape
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro is thriving in his expanded role with the team and making even larger moves off the court. The 2020 first-round select of Auburn recently partnered with HOLO Footwear in an equity deal to release a signature sneaker called the IO:01 and an accompanying apparel line. Perhaps more importantly, he is also part owner of the corporate.
Okoro said he first heard about HOLO in late October 2023 through his agent. As he began researching the corporate, he became more intrigued. Okoro flew to Portland, Oregon, met with the HOLO team to find out about their backgrounds and realized that all of them had a similar upbringing. When the shoe company presented the contract, the choice to sign was easy.
“I wanted to be part of a company that wanted me,” Okoro said. “(HOLO) told me that from the beginning.” He was also encouraged by the concept of constructing something from scratch. To reach the highest, you may have to start from the underside, he said. “Me and HOLO, like we each start from the underside. (They) saw me. This process and constructing it together shall be a lot fun.
Richard Payne/Young Money APAA Sports
HOLO and Okoro’s partnership means he is essential to the corporate as an athlete and investor.
“I think a lot of companies are abandoning the language of equity right now because it sounds good,” said Daveed Cohen, an agent at Young Money APAA Sports who leads the HOLO brand strategy in social media, content creation and community engagement.
The Atlanta-born Hooper said completing the equity deal was a learning experience that he appreciated.
“It’s quite the right approach to athletes these days,” he said. “But when you present a story where an athlete has equity, what do you actually do with it?”
David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
As a part of HOLO Footwear’s basketball priority, Okoro participates in all the pieces from footwear design and testing to social media marketing for yet-to-be-released sneakers. It’s a two-way working relationship between him and the corporate’s founders, Rommel Vega and Yuri Rodriguez.
“That means constant communication, man,” Vega said. During the Zoom interview, he held up his phone to show how often he and Okoro communicate. The text message thread shows the 2 men’s almost each day conversations. What about Okoro’s role in the corporate?
“He will attend board meetings and interact with other investors. Having equity means you may have the best to vote. Voting rights mean we will move together or not move in any respect,” Vega said.
Richard Payne/Young Money APAA Sports
Richard Payne/Young Money APAA Sports
HOLO Footwear was founded in 2020. The company’s goal is to create durable and inexpensive sneakers. Her goal is to create great shoes that do not break the bank. HOLO understands that cheaper performance shoes used to be more common, but now seem rare.
“We live in a completely different world. I don’t know if you have to sell shoes for $35, but you don’t have to sell them for $200 to make a living. We have swung the pendulum one way or another,” Vega said. He believes there is a marketplace for inexpensive basketball shoes with the technology crucial to compete with traditional powerhouses.
“If you look at the market, everything costs between $160 and $200. But if you’re making $100 to, let’s say, $120 to $130 and you’re shipping the sneakers to a nice premium retail store that has a performance attribute, I think you’ve got something really special,” Vega said. “I think that’s the sweet spot that a lot of people struggle to hit.”
Affordability is one other vital feature of HOLO Footwear products. “Vega’s parents emigrated from Nicaragua to Miami in the 1990s.” I went to school in a really disenfranchised area of Miami,” he said. “I grew up in a trailer park off thirty sixth Street. You hear people rapping in Miami Jai Alai. It was across the road from where I grew up.
Vega knows from his own experience how expensive it may be for families who want to equip their children with high-quality sneakers. He wants to use the corporate to make a difference.
The co-founders have over 50 years of experience within the footwear industry, having worked for Merrell, Columbia Sportswear, Saucony and Puma. Before the deal with Okoro, HOLO Footwear’s bread and butter were outdoor sneakers and boots.
HOLO goals to provide the identical high standard in IO:01. “We’re taking a lot of the lessons we’ve learned in other industries and applying them to the process of creating this shoe,” Vega said.
“We’re learning. For (Okoro’s first shoe), we wanted something like ‘keep it easy, silly’. He’s an athlete. His body is his temple. We want to be certain his knees are in good condition and his foot is really functional, so we added belt,” Vega said. “There are a lot of design options at this company. We wanted to make sure Isaac could showcase his presence on the court throughout the evening.”
Cohen said HOLO’s flexibility is a huge profit to Okoro.
Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images
David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
“Isaac put them on and said, ‘Man, these are so comfortable.’ Then the following phase was to test them. He ran, exercised and shared his comments with us. HOLO quickly implemented changes based on Okoro’s feedback, reducing the testing and customization process from two to three months to a few weeks.
“With Isaac back at the table and working directly with the co-founder, this is possible,” Cohen said. “(The sneakers) were a huge priority for us, but I think the unique value proposition is also HOLO’s ability to be agile and make quick decisions because you’re talking directly to the top leadership.”
The care HOLO showed with Okoro’s first release is a part of a long-term strategy for the clothing line. Vega said the corporate is taking its time to be certain all of the pieces are in place before the IO:01 officially goes on sale in the autumn. They work with retailers across the country and create partnerships to maximize sales. HOLO wants to construct all the pieces from scratch.
“We keep getting (excellent) feedback. Now we play with the color and personalize it for him. I think this will be important. We will see which of them get the most heat and we will be able to release them. We are creating special editions for some people who have requested this shoe. We’re excited about it. We are in no rush to make money on them. And we really, really want to do it right,” Vega said.
Okoro said he is honored that HOLO has allowed him to be the primary player to represent its brand and own an equity stake. He said his favorite a part of the sneaker-making process was selecting colours “and seeing what stood out and what caught the eye.”
The variety of equity deals is growing, however it’s still a relatively new landscape, especially for somebody like Okoro and a company like HOLO who’re venturing into high-end basketball shoe manufacturing for the primary time. They’ll be being attentive to sales numbers, but they’re also social media engagement and the impact of the shoe launch on disadvantaged neighborhoods.
“Those are the things that make a story successful,” Vega said. “Did we manage to get (the shoe) into the hands of children? And can they afford it? We want them to wear it and enjoy it. Have we trained them in sustainability? And really, what does that really mean in this day and age?”
Entertainment
An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit
Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”
She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.
Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.
On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”
One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.
Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.
Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, cropped a photograph of him in a jumpsuit and then set Instagram on fire with her look.https://t.co/n7YNGctQFE pic.twitter.com/DNKP2i9o9C
— Sean Joseph (@sjoseph_sports) December 2, 2024
When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.
Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”
Lauren Sanchez 2003 vs. Lauren Sanchez 2024
Nothing to see here, people, move on#LaurenSanchez pic.twitter.com/mgr4vj6mFq
— Occam was right (@OccamWasRight) November 21, 2024
Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”
Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.
Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.
Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.
India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.
“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”
Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.
Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.
India Shawn
Name:
India Shawn
Hometown:
Los Angeles
Artistic soundscape
Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric
The oldest musical memory
Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.
Influences
For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.
Creative process
Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”
Challenges and development
As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”
Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.
Current project
“There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”
With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.
Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.
From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.
In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.
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