FCTRY LAb, the footwear company founded by Omar Bailey, has partnered with multi-platinum rapper NLE Choppa to release a new black colorway of their popular Duck Boot. This collaboration marks the second iteration of the successful silhouette after the original yellow version sold out quickly in May.
Omar Bailey, former head of innovation at Yeezy and co-founder of FCTRY LAb, expressed surprise at the overwhelming response to the first release. “The yellow Duck Boot got people talking, whether they loved it or hated it. I was quite surprised that more people were into the yellow colorway than I thought,” said Bailey.
The new black Duck Boot features an EVA foam upper, vegan leather collar, comfort-fit lining and a distinctive textured rubber outsole. Explaining the design choice, Bailey said, “I thought the black colorway was an opportunity to show Choppa in a different light since he’s been elevating his fashion aesthetic.“
This release follows FCTRY LAb’s recent collaboration with Collina Strada designer Hillary Taymour, which was showcased during New York Fashion Week. The company’s growing portfolio of partnerships has attracted investor interest, with Bailey revealing plans for an $8 million growth funding round, expected to close in Q4.
FCTRY LAb’s journey began in late 2022, when Bailey and partner Abhishek Som launched the company. Since then, they’ve introduced several styles and collaborations, including projects with NFL players Jalen Ramsey and Trent Williams and rapper Symba.
The NLE Choppa x FCTRY LAb Black Duck Boot will be available on October 5th for $232.95 exclusively at fctrylab.com.