Taking Out The Trash: AND 1 To Focus Exclusively On Shoes

By Terry Lefton, Editor-at-Large

AND 1, the basketball apparel brand that started in ‘93 with trash-talking T-shirts emblazoned with sayings like "Save yourself the embarrassment. Pass," is well on its way to becoming solely an athletic shoe brand. A new deal with N.Y.-based High Life Apparel gives that company licensing rights for a men’s apparel line that will hit retail late this year. The move follows AND 1’s sale late last year to American Sporting Goods, which also owns the Avia, Ryka, Yukon and Apex footwear brands. Kids Headquarters remains AND 1’s licensee for children’s apparel.