Check out our exclusive interview with Robbie Long, LeBron Senior Merchandise Manager.

Robbie Long is the Senior Merchandise Manager for LeBron’s apparel collection. Over the last few years, Robbie has watched LeBron’s game evolve and the LeBron collection evolve with him. We caught up with Robbie and got a glimpse into the upcoming apparel collection, as well as an inside look at the development of LeBron’s gear.

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WORKING WITH LEBRON

The main thing that we found out about LeBron, really quickly, was his maturity at such a young age. When we first met, he was 19, and his maturity level, his knowledge and his passion for the game of basketball really surprised us all. From the beginning, his insight has been tremendous…he provides a lot of insight into the collection.

As we enter each season with LeBron, we come in and say, how do you see this and how does it relate to you as a player both on and off the court? And from his feedback, we receive a lot of input that we can bring into the graphics and the fabrications throughout the line.

From getting samples and making revisions to going to Lebron’s house, sitting with him and presenting the whole concept of the line…to finally seeing it on LeBron and out in the marketplace… speaking on behalf of the team, it makes us feel proud and feel good that we can deliver this product to one of the most elite basketball players on the face of the planet.

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THE VOICE OF LEBRON

LeBron is funny, he’s dynamic and he’s very comfortable around his family and friends…he needs apparel that says, this is who LeBron is.

In the beginning, he liked that 3XL T-shirt, bigger warmup suits, shorts…now he’s saying, I still like that looseness, but can we trim it down a little bit. Being able to sit with LeBron and get his feedback on the entire collection gives us the opportunity to say, this is where we need to be, this is how it all relates to LeBron.

LeBron might say, this speaks to me and how I was growing up in Akron. Or, going to the playground in the summertime, I can definitely feel this graphic. With another graphic he might say, I can wear this with a blazer, pair of jeans and LeBron lows when I’m doing a press conference because it speaks to who I am off the court.

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THE NEW COLLECTION

Working with Ken Link, Nike Sr. Footwear Designer, who designed the Zoom LeBron IV, we took all of that information – whether it was the different parts of the shoe, the cut lines, the colors, the different mesh blends that they used throughout the footwear – and we put that into the apparel.

As the shoe becomes more advanced in its overall design, so does the apparel. So on the apparel side, you’ll see the exact same cut lines and design language from the shoe…here’s the Zoom LeBron IV with all its technologies and innovations, and this is what the apparel stands for.

Performance-wise, we came up with some lux fabrications and some lighter weights that give LeBron the performance on the court he’s looking for.

Off the court, As far as the different techniques used, we stepped the game up as well. We keep things very unique and exclusive with our graphics, adding distinctive elements of color, detailing, applications, flocking, foil, high density and so forth. LeBron offers a lot of input into this process.

Be on the lookout for new and exciting things to come…we haven’t even scratched the surface of LeBron!

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Stay tuned to inside.nikebasketball.com for more Zoom LeBron IV coverage as we get closer and closer to its exciting release.