Al Harrington’s Protege
Protoge’s A3H and AspireA while back I posted some info on Al Harrington’s new line of sneakers called Protege. The official launch of the sneaker and apparel line was this past All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, and with Fashion Week upon us New Yorkers I got up with Al at the swanky Bryant Park Hotel to holla at him about Protege.
AP got up with Al a while back, around the time he just came to the Knicks, and rapped with him about sneakers in general…this go ’round I decided to sit and talk to him about his whole inspiration and focus behind his new business venture.
Dime: How does one go about starting a sneaker company?
Al: Well…(laughs) it is hard work! You first have to sit down and make sure you’re knowledgeable about the sneaker business. Then you need to find a designer and then a factory to manufacture your product. That is the quick explanation (laughs).
Dime: Talk about the design process.
Al: Well, we hooked up with Dallas Stokes, a designer out of Los Angeles and he’ll create a sample and send it to me. I am involved in the design of each shoe. He’ll send a sample and I will tell him what needs to be changed, what I like, ect…Sometimes I’ll fly out to meet Dallas or he’ll come and meet me.
Dime: What was your inspiration behind Protege?
Al: Life experiences. Growing up in Orange, NJ was a bit rough. Being the oldest I couldn’t always afford $100 sneakers. I wanted to create a sneaker that was affordable but also looks good.
Dime: Why the name Protege?
Al: I looked to my little cousins for a name…you know the little ones are the ones who come up with the good ones. In the end it was my boy George Steinberg who came up with the name. I heard it and fell in love with it.
Dime: What other players are involved or associated by Protege?
Al: Right now it is Myself and Stephen Jackson, Ron Artest and Mickael Pietrus as far as basketball goes. We are branching out soon into football and baseball.
Dime: What’s with the apparel?
Al: All of the apparel is on court performance gear. Hoodies, shorts, and sweats. It is all good quality material. You can wash it, dry it…whatever. It isn’t that cheap material that will shrink on you.
Dime: What about the haters that say Protege sneakers aren’t as good as Nikes or Jordans?
Al: All I can say is try them on and let me know if you feel a difference. There isn’t one. The quality is the same for under $40 dollars.
You can cop the full collection of Protege sneakers and apparel at a K-Mart near you. For more information hit up www.protogemvp.com
February 19th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Ian says:
christian whats up man i bought the white ones still havent received them but they look good imo.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
QuEst?? says:
they look good and they are affordable, i just hope they arent the same quality as the sneackers shaq sells on payless because they suck
February 19th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Christian Grant-Fields says:
Ian,
What’s good my man? I am a fan of the all black ones. I can’t do an all white bball shoe…something just isn’t right about it. You ordered them? From where? You’re overseas correct?
-cgf
February 19th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Ian says:
kmart i think yeah man im overseas
there not all white they are almost half blue i think.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
CGF– I was at the mall the other day and saw the Obama dunking and knocking out McCain… In red… They want like 30 for them, is that the avg price?
February 19th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
QuEst?? says:
ian no ay kmart en la republica?
February 19th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Ian says:
quest nope tenemos tiendas ke hacen lo mismo pero otros nombres
February 19th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Ian says:
quest tambien aqui si algo cuesta 40 dolares es muy probable que cueste mucho mas
February 19th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
P WEEZY says:
PROTEGE WORLD WIDE WIDE WIDE
Al harrington better not piss all his money away on this venture didn’t he see what happened to STARBURY save dat cash man recession
weeze
February 19th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
control says:
Anyone actually use a pair of these? Is the qualiity there? I don’t see myself switching out my hyperdunks just yet (until the new hyperlites or wtf they are called come out).
These might be good shoes to lay stomps on homeless people with…once you are done you can let the homeless person keep the shoe. That much fun for only $34 is priceless.
February 19th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Christian Grant-Fields says:
@ Drink,
If you’re talking about the Undrcrwn shirt then I think 30 bones is what it is hittin’ for.
-cgf
February 19th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
Yeah CGF it’s the Undercrwn shirt, I never saw it in red until the other day. IS it quality material? I imagine for 30 it would be real nice material. And especially in Red whooooo….. I might have to get before I go to AL this spring.
February 19th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Gerard says:
His cousin George Steinberg? Hmm…..
February 19th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
control says:
“What’s with the apparel?
Al: All of the apparel is on court performance gear. Hoodies, shorts, and sweats. It is all good quality material. You can wash it, dry it…whatever. It isn’t that cheap material that will shrink on you.”
His answer had me rolling…clothes you can wash and dry, that is INSANE!
I usually just wear my $1200 suits then throw them out at the end of the day, apparently his stuff is better because I can wear it more than once. This guy is revolutionary.
February 21st, 2009 at 3:48 pm
recession balla says:
…we used to call kicks like these…BUDDIES…
June 17th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
LOL says:
THE SHOES ARE A GREAT IDEAL BUT THE MATERIAL IS SUSPECT,YOU CANT BUY ANYTHING MADE OF REAL CROC OR GATOR FOR 34 DOLLARS IMPOSSIBLE,I DONT CARE WHERE YOUR MANUFACTURING AT. SO PEOPLE THE MATERIALS ARE PVC AND PLASTICS FOR SURE… NOT HATING JUST DONT WANT TO CONFUSE THE BUYING PUBLIC… I THINK WHAT BIG AL IS DOING IS GREAT JUST KEEP IT REAL OK…