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Bala Shoes Brand History

Discover Bala Footwear, the nursing shoe brand founded in 2020 by former Nike employees Brian Lockard and John Eberle in Portland.

Bala Shoes Brand History

Bala Shoes Brand History

Bala Footwear was established in 2020 by Brian Lockard and John Eberle, who were previously employed at Nike. This brand specializes in providing healthcare professionals with comfortable and athletic footwear.

In January 2021, they introduced their inaugural shoe called the Twelves, inspired by the typical 12-hour shifts worked by nurses. Currently, the Twelves are available in six different colors and are priced at $150 per pair.

By August, Bala had secured almost $2.28 million in venture funding and commenced operations with $1 million from presales. During its initial year, the company reported a revenue of $4 million, with sales consistently doubling on a monthly basis since September 2021.

In June 2021, Bala forged a partnership with Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design, an institution established by Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, a former designer at Nike and Jordan Brand. Through this collaboration, the Pensole team will provide valuable support to enhance Bala’s current product line and assist in its expansion efforts.

Origin Portland, Oregon
Founded Sep. 2020
Category Nursing Shoes
Founder Brian Lockard and John Eberle (Former Employee Nike)
Acquired By June 2023, Careismatic Brands, Inc.

In June 2023, Careismatic Brands Inc., a medical apparel company, revealed its acquisition of Bala footwear, a shoe brand specifically catering to nurses.

This acquisition integrates Bala into Careismatic’s collection of medical apparel brands, which already includes Cherokee Uniforms, Dickies Medical, Medelita, and various others.

FAQs

Who owns Bala Footwear?

In June 2023, Careismatic Brands acquired Bala Footwear. Bala Footwear was originally founded in 2020 by Brian Lockard and John Eberle, both of whom had prior employment at Nike.

Where is Bala Footwear headquarters?

BALA Footwear is situated in Portland, Oregon, in the United States.