APL Athletic Propulsion Labs Footwear

Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL) is a high-end luxury performance footwear brand that gained global notoriety when its first basketball shoe, the Concept 1, was banned by the NBA for providing an undue competitive advantage via its Load 'N Launch technology.

Since its founding, the brand has expanded from professional basketball performance into the luxury lifestyle and running categories. While the brand is headquartered in the United States and performs its design and engineering there, the manufacturing process is global, utilizing specialized factories in Asia and other regions to produce its high-tech fabrics and proprietary sole technologies.

The company remains independently owned and operated by its original founders. This independence has allowed the brand to maintain its position at the intersection of luxury fashion and performance sports, often being sold in high-end boutiques and luxury department stores worldwide rather than traditional sporting goods outlets.