Gilbert Arenas and Byron Sheng

From the a3 Decades in gold/white that went a long way in igniting my passion for shoes, to the twenty pairs of collaborative TS Lightswitch Lows (more commonly referred to as the second shoe in the Gilbert Arenas line) this past season, the adidas Remix line has indeed left an indelible mark in an already uber-competitive sneaker world.

Bryon Sheng, a co-founder of the adidas Sports Performance Remix division, is responsible for much of the success the lifestyle category has enjoyed so far. He started his career in 1986 as a part time sales representative for Foot Locker, and went on to gain considerable industry experience as a Retail Supervisor for Nike. In ‘98 Sheng became a Manager for adidas’ first inline retail store, and in ‘99, he funneled his vast experience even further to become a Department Manager for the Three Stripes.

But it wasn’t until November ’06, when Sheng was attempting to place a limited shoe at the boutique level that the Remix line came to fruition. Since, it has incontestably become one of adidas’ most revered product lines at the retail level. By taking cues from his adept, well-rounded background, Bryon built healthy partnerships with urban couture brands such as Lemar & Dauley, UndrCrwn, Mama Clothing, and 5th Platoon. He also provided the blueprint for confederate efforts with EA Sports, Benihaha, and Three-Zero to conceive the delightful Gilbert Arenas limited editions jumpoffs (Folks, seriously check out the carbon fiber Three-Zeros—beautiful!)

Prior to the Remix segment, Bryon oversaw the Muhammad Ali, Pistol Pete, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Original lines that contained several gems I dearly wish I could’ve gotten my hands on.

He adds, “I didn’t just stumble across a position in this industry; I planned from the age of 15 to be a difference maker in this game. It is exactly to the month, 20 years since I first threw on a referee uniform and walked out to the sales floor of a Footlocker. It is a long time ago but still very vivid in my mind; I often think about how much I have changed, the things I’ve been able to accomplish, and the people I’ve gotten know along the way. I hung out with Muhammad Ali, got photographed by Howard Bingham, watched Sport center highlights of Reggie Bush with Reggie Bush, and have flown all over the world because of sneakers! It’s been an amazing, wonderful world, and I’m just blessed. I really am. I would have never thought I could accomplish or see what I’ve seen because of my love for shoes.”