BEHIND THE BRAND – PART 6

Posted by DnG on May 16, 2013 by DnG

Who remembers our grunge loving character LOU from the early years of Lugz?

LOU AFTER A NIGHT IN THE MASH PIT

Lou was always in some sort of trouble – whether it was watching Killerbands, eating Corndogs or stomping on Prom Queens. One thing was for certain – he did Love his Lugz! And it was always an adventure hearing what he was up to.

Here are some of the “Best of Lou” radio spots. You judge for yourself!

1994 – Can’t Get in w/Homeboy Jeff http://www.lugz.com/history/1994/1/

1994 – Killerband http://www.lugz.com/history/1994/2/

1994 – Lou’s lil brother is a dork no more! http://www.lugz.com/history/1994/3/

1994 – Catch Lou reminiscing about “Venus in Leather”! http://www.lugz.com/history/1994/9/

1995 – How much Lou loves Lugz! http://www.lugz.com/history/1995/1/

1995 – Lou gets a new tattoo - http://www.lugz.com/history/1995/3/

1996 – Keep the healthy granola; Lou prefers Corn Dogs – http://www.lugz.com/history/1996/3/

1996 – Space Cadet Lou, back from Uranus – http://www.lugz.com/history/1996/9/

BEHIND THE BRAND – PART 5

Posted by DnG on March 14, 2013 by DnG

Who remembers the animated series that Lugz was a part of – way back in 2000?

FORTY AND SHORTY! If this hasn’t jogged your memory…let’s re-introduce them:

Forty and Shorty were two 13-year old misfit friends, one black and one white, who lived across the street from each other. One in the ghetto and the other in a trailer park. Week to week on this animated webisode, you witnessed their adventures and were introduced to “unique” family members.

This was a great project to be a part of. We got to work with the amazing actor/producer Claude Brooks, who Co-Created and Executive Produced the web series as well as being the voice of Forty!

WATCH IT HERE!

Yes, Forty is rocking his Lugz!

BEHIND THE BRAND – PART 4

Posted by DnG on February 21, 2013 by DnG

As we reminisce about the last 20 years of the brand – one of the things that we think about, and are proud to share with you, is the amount of films that Lugz has been involved in. We have had some great friendships and working relationships with some of the best Directors, Producers, Actors and of course, the Wardrobe Stylists. So many films we have been invited to; our list still impresses us!

I’ve selected a few of my favorite to share with you –

HE GOT GAME – A Spike Lee Film – Who wasn’t rooting for Jesus Shuttleworth? A son of a convicted fellon, with so much talent on the court. The problem is that his father had one thing on his mind – get Jesus to sign with a big state college and receive a reduced sentence. Check out Ray Allen sporting his Lugz Shirt!

THE CORNER – 6 part HBO MINI-SERIES - A year in the life of an inner city neighborhood – a true story showing a family living in poverity amid open-air drug markets in West Baltimore. This was difficult watching their struggles with little light at the end of the tunnel. Charles Dutton did an amazing job capturing every gritty detail – and we thank him for allowing us to be a part of this film.

ME MYSELF AND IRENE – On a much lighter note – how funny is Jim Carrey?! Playing a Rhode Island State Trooper with multi-personalities – who just loves his boys! Check out our friend Anthony Anderson wearing his blue zip up Lugz Shirt.

THE NEPHEW - A young bi-racial American travels to Ireland following the death of his mother, to meet her family. The young star – is Hill Harper. You can see him sporting several Lugz Apparel pieces.

NOTORIOUS – The story of the late, great Christopher Wallace – aka Notorious B.I.G. We were very fortunate that we had the opportunity to work with Biggie – and were honored to be included in the film.

BEHIND THE BRAND – PART 3

Posted by DnG on January 31, 2013 by DnG

WE LOVE OUR ENDORSERS – BUT OUR FIRST ONE IS ALWAYS THE SPECIAL ONE!

In our 20^th year celebrating Lugz, we have to look back to the great endorsers we have had over the years, an unbelievable list of great artists. Lugz actually was one of the first brands that promoted Hip Hop Artists. For those of you who have followed Lugz – you know this great list kicked off with the Green Eyed Bandit himself – Erick Sermon…the “E” in EPMD.

(Trivia Question – how many of you followed EPMD to remember what that stands for?)

We started working with Erick the same way we have worked with all of our Hip Hop Endorsers – they wore Lugz, they liked Lugz – so they endorsed Lugz. Erick would come up to our offices, with a few of his Def Squad boys – yes, this included Redman and Keith Murray who later on joined the list of Lugz Endorsers. He’d sit and pick out what he liked – and of course he’d want to “re-design” and change what he didn’t.

The day of the shoot, he put on his Lugz Boots, his Lugz Apparel and we headed out to Brooklyn. 8 hours later, several changes, we came out with some dope print ads. Everyone was listening to radio back then – so Erick also did some cool radio spots for Lugz. We did most of our photo shoots on the streets – we were Built for the Streets back in 1993 and we are still Built for the Streets 20 years later in 2013.

By the way – the trivia answer is “Erick and Parrish Making Dollars”.

When we really knew

Posted by DnG on January 17, 2013 by DnG

So we know how the name Lugz came about – and what the first print ad looked like (Peep How it All Started); but do you know when we really knew we had a great product?

We had a couple of styles of great boots – a pair of jeans, a flannel shirt, a vest and a few hats. Before beginning our relationship with our amazing list of endorsers, as we went to press with our first print ad, we were ready to get the product out to the movers and shakers. We always loved music – but everyone loved a good tv show too. Remember it was 1993 – so think back to what was happening on tv: The Arsenio Hall Show, Fresh Prince of Belair, Martin Show, and who could forget In Living Color.

So the product was sent out – and within days, Arsenio Hall was doing his “Woof” pumps wearing a fresh pair of Lugz, Lugz Jeans and Lugz Flannel Shirt. Speaking of Fresh – not too long after that, the Prince himself was wearing it in Bel Aire. Followed by Martin and In Living Color. The Wayan Brothers began supporting us – continued to their own show a few years later – as well as into their movie projects. Jamie Foxx also followed suit. This was only the beginning! Much more to come……

HOW IT ALL STARTED

Posted by DnG on December 18, 2012 by DnG

How many Urban Footwear Brands can say they have been present for 20 years? Pretty cool that we can say we are getting ready to enter into our 20th year!
Back in early 1993, we were all getting ready for the launch of this new brand — at that time we were all using the full name, N.Y. Lug Company. Such buzz in the office, and excitement. We were planning to release two styles of boots, along with a pair of jeans, a flannel shirt and some hats.
As we started taking the boots out to get some feedback from kids â€“ the big question was “where did the name come from”.
The first boot was a logger soled boot — with a “lug” sole. We are a New York based company. We are New York Lug Company!
But the kids didn’t want to say the whole name. As we spoke to kids in the New York area, they started calling it “NY Lugs” — Outside of the New York area, they went a step further and just saying “Lugs”. As a fashion company, “Lugs” was so generic. We didn’t just want to be an “outsole”— we wanted the name to reflect more. So we took it to the next level giving it our own style, and NY Lug Company became known as LUGZ.
Anyone remember this first print ad from 1993 — featured in the Source Magazine?

Check back as we remember the first Endorsers of Lugz — as we share some of the “behind the brand” with you.

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