Socks made by FBF Originals.
One week ago, the NBA announced that it had agreed to a deal with Stance to be the official on-court sock provider for the National Basketball Association (NBA). If you follow the NBA, then you may know how they are treasured items.
Made even better a few years ago with additional cushioning at the heel and toe, NBA socks are incredibly comfortable and great for athletic types. Around the league, staffers stash them away when they can, and ball boys divide up whatever is left behind from visiting teams. (I know, because that was once me. I now probably have over 50 pairs.)
The simplicity of FBF’s NBA sock, with added comfort at the heel and foot.
FBF Originals has been the official on-court sock of the NBA since 1999. But after this 2014-15 season, those rights will belong to Stance, an up-and-coming sock company “dedicated to the spirit of individuality with a design philosophy that believes in expression and function,” according to its website.
FBF Originals, a family-owned Indiana business, isn’t a loser out of the whole thing because they still have a licensee to manufacture NBA socks. No longer, however, will they be worn on the basketball court.
“We retain all rights,” FBF Originals President Kelly Baugh told VigilantSports.com. “From a retail standpoint and our sales, it doesn’t change things. We just aren’t providing the players with the socks that they wear.”
When I asked if they were able to negotiate with the league to maintain their status as the official on-court sock, Baugh said simply, “It wasn’t an option.”
Reggie’s Request
Pacers fans will remember the teams in the late 1990s that decided to shave their heads and wear black socks and shoes. Reggie Miller reached out to the NBA seeking black socks as a good luck piece. The NBA then dialed up FBF because they were a licensee and knew of their capabilities. That’s how Reggie and the team got the socks they wanted.
Years later, the same happened with Philadelphia 76ers’ point guard Allen Iverson — and again, FBF took care of it.
The Inception of For Bare Feet
FBF Originals — FBF stands for ‘For Bare Feet’ — was created in 1984 by Sharon Rivenbark, a school teacher and mother to five children. Rivenbark’s son (and Baugh’s brother), Tim, was 16 years old and a good looking, athletic (on the tennis and cross country teams), “and was a genius,” according to Baugh. His IQ was over 150.
That summer he had an unbelievable growth spurt, growing 16 inches.
“When he grew, it triggered a brain tumor that they didn’t know that he had,” Baugh explained. “They told my mother that he would end up mentally retarded and that she needed to have him weave baskets or stuff envelopes everyday because he would lose his short-term memory and would need to have something to do.
“My mother wasn’t about to do that.”
And thus with a knitting machine, Sharon opened a 10 x 15 retail store in Brown County, Indiana on April 1, 1984. (Yes, that’s April Fool’s Day.)
A year into the small business, a chance encounter with Maurice Davis, the Director of Retail at Indiana University, led to FBF making socks for the IU bookstore, and then for the National Association of College Stores. Business was growing, with FBF Originals producing socks for bookstores around the country, all kinds of boutiques, and wholesale.
Although Tim passed away in 1987, the business continued on — and found great success. In 1988, they got a licensee for the University of Notre Dame.
“Back in 1988-89, it was like having the NFL license,” Baugh said.
FBF Originals would later acquire licenses to the NBA, NFL, and MLB in 1996 — meaning they could create items with team and league logos and colors — and then the NHL in 1997. 13 years in and working out of a small retail space in Brown County, they had the licenses of all four major professional sports.
They also secured deals with resorts and novelty shops all over the country.
FBF Originals current headquarters in Martinsville, Indiana.
“Just about anywhere you go on vacation, whether it’s Kennedy Space Center and you go on a tour through Jelly Belly gift shops and factory, Niagra Falls to Yellowstone National Park, even in the airports. Anything with a novelty logo … we make those socks,” Baugh said proudly.
In 1999, FBF became the official on-court sock provider for the NBA.
But it wasn’t all gravy for this booming company. Like any business, they had their obstacles. In the early afternoon on September 10, 2011, one of the air compressors outside the plant caught fire and caused devastating damage.
But like Tim, the family company persevered.
FBF officially relocated to Martinsville, 20 minutes from the previous site, on December 10, 2011 and into a 225,000 square foot facility. That year, they worked with NBA International to gain the rights to Europe.
Today, FBF Originals has about 180 employees, including three women and four men from the family, and is still run by Sharon Rivenbark, the CEO.
Enter: Stance
Stance Socks is focusing on a category it believes has been taken for granted or even ignored. Over the last five years, it has enhanced its technology and made a name in the sock world for its flashy and attractive designs.
The current NBA sock worn by all players on court is simple: White or black with the NBA logo on both sides. It is comfortable but also pricey. But that’s to be expected when fans are willing to shell out the money for them.
Unlike FBF, Stance’s logo will appear on the sock and they will create team-speficic designs.
A look at Stance’s NBA sock and two teams’ custom design.
This is a huge get for the brand, as they will grow even further as they receive incredibly attention from the players and those watching games.
“We can’t wait to bring our innovative sock technology and unique style to the NBA’s global following,” said Clarke Miyasaki, EVP of Business Development at Stance. “It’s an unbelievable honor for Stance to become the league’s official oncourt sock, and we look forward to unveiling the entire lineup to NBA fans.”
Stance has endorsement deals with Miami’s Dwyane Wade, Dallas’ Chandler Parsons, Detroit’s Andre Drummond, and most recently, Klay Thompson of Golden State. They are currently in 40 countries and plan to introduce an underwear line later this year.
Every now and then, Paul George shows up to games in Stance socks with Larry Bird on them.
Paul George wearing these Larry Bird socks after the game. “Gotta respect The Legend,” he said. pic.twitter.com/coHqS6pvbW
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) February 10, 2015
Although they are disappointed that they will no longer be the on-court sock provider for the NBA, Baugh says FBF Originals maintains a great relationship with the league and still has licensees for the four main professional leagues — plus the WNBA, and MLS.
During their time together, FBF worked with the league to create unique socks for occasions, like the NBA All-Star game and their now annual Green Week. (FBF offered to create bamboo organic cotton socks for Green Week.)
“We’ve had a very, very long-term relationship with the NBA and we are very appreciate of that and continue to be a part,” Baugh said. “We look to continue to grow our business with the NBA. It’s business as usual and for us, that means growing.”