Hong Kong trainer brand Lane Eight founders on what sets their sneakers apart
Brothers Josh and James Shorrock, who wanted to create a shoe that would take them from the gym to an evening out, on how they combine style with performance and why pink is for everyone
What makes the shoes different? Josh: “The idea came from us wearing so many pairs of shoes a day: one to go to the gym, one for work, a shoe for basketball, another for going out. We thought, why can’t we take elements from these different categories and put them into one?”
Can you describe the shoe? Josh: “It’s a combination of a running and training shoe, so it’s slightly higher in the heel, with sidewalls that give you stability and a durable outsole. The midfoot lacing design really holds you and is something [that looks] a little different.”
What are the advantages of co-founding a brand as brothers? James: “I’ve known Josh all my life so there’s implicit trust. We’re not scared of disagreeing with each other. We bring different experiences to the table; people have joked that I’m lifestyle and he’s performance. Lane Eight wouldn’t exist without Josh’s engineering, design background and experience in bringing shoes to life. I worked in editorial and marketing so I had a sense of what the market was looking for.”
Tell us about you range of colours. James: “We always wanted to use colour in a way that looks good without being garish and fits with customers’ wardrobes. White and black are the most popular colours, which we expected. But when we hold pop-ups, the more colourful shoes, like pink and tan, are more popular. People need to have context – to see other people wearing them and see how you’d style it.”
Josh: “The pink style made people think [the brand] was going to be more feminine, but we were always adamant about everything we release being for everyone.”