LA Gear has been an American lifestyle icon since 1983, known for its retro-inspired shoes and star-studded endorsements. Now, the brand is using its signature flair to power a cutting-edge dance-workout app and revamped eCommerce platform, uniting nostalgic style with modern technology.
In the 80s and 90s, LA Gear redefined athletic fashion by blending celebrity appeal with stylish women’s shoes at a time when competitors were focused on performance alone. Endorsed by icons like Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Wayne Gretzky, LA Gear rose to the top echelons of the footwear industry. Fast forward to the 2000s, and the brand remains a nostalgic favorite—cherished by retro enthusiasts and remembered fondly by anyone who grew up sporting those bold, head-turning sneakers.
Today, LA Gear is set to capture a new generation. Beyond its beloved footwear, it’s branching into dance-driven workouts and social engagement. Determined to create a dynamic app featuring dance classes, competitive challenges, and integrated shopping, LA Gear partnered with Chop Dawg to translate decades of brand equity into an interactive digital experience that’s as energizing as it is iconic.
Although LA Gear maintained strong name recognition and nostalgic appeal, they faced a fast-evolving marketplace. Customers wanted more than a stylish shoe—they craved an integrated experience that included workouts, community connections, and instant product access. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated demand for at-home fitness solutions, prompting a surge in digital dance and workout offerings.
LA Gear needed a platform where fans could find celebrity-led dance classes, compete for badges and rewards, and seamlessly browse branded merchandise. The brand turned to Chop Dawg to create a dance-focused fitness app that could capture the spontaneity of a viral TikTok challenge and the glam of LA Gear’s star-studded history—all while offering an eCommerce interface that kept shoppers within the LA Gear ecosystem.
Building a Comprehensive Digital Solution: A Collaborative Journey
Working side by side with LA Gear, Chop Dawg embarked on a mission to blend nostalgia, fitness, and eCommerce into a single digital product. Our design process, guided by weekly check-ins and iterative feedback, began with wireframing every screen, ensuring the end product was both stylish and easy to use. Then, we moved into high-fidelity mockups and final product flows—crafting a colorful, bold aesthetic reminiscent of LA Gear’s retro roots. With the brand’s fashion-forward legacy in mind, we integrated modern user experience principles that seamlessly connect dance workouts to in-app merchandise.
We developed a next-generation iPhone and Android app that seamlessly combines immersive dance workouts, live video, community-driven progress tracking, and gamified shopping for a truly engaging LA Gear experience:
Users can stream professionally curated dance sessions—from classic 80s aerobics vibes to modern hip-hop—led by instructors that fans are likely to recognize. Weekly and monthly challenges keep workouts fresh and competitive, helping users stay motivated and engaged.
Built-in message boards allow users to post updates on their fitness journeys, share tips, and celebrate each other’s milestones. An integrated profile tracks progress, logs completed workouts, and visually showcases earned badges—turning personal victories into community triumphs.
Dancers can browse LA Gear’s retro-inspired merchandise right from the app. Earned badges unlock immediate discounts, creating a fun reward loop that incentivizes users to keep dancing, discover new apparel, and support LA Gear’s latest lines.
As users achieve goals or place in the top spots of dance contests, they earn badges, each tied to a unique discount code or exclusive offer. This gamification fosters loyalty, drives sales, and celebrates LA Gear’s playful brand spirit.
Beyond the consumer-facing app, Chop Dawg developed a robust infrastructure to help LA Gear stay agile and innovative:
Admin users can update dance class catalogs, moderate community boards, and instantly refresh merchandise listings. This real-time oversight ensures fans always see the latest workouts and apparel—no coding required.
Detailed metrics on user engagement, workout preferences, and purchase trends give LA Gear actionable intelligence. By spotting which dances attract the highest participation or which products spark the most excitement, the brand can refine promotions and target marketing efforts more effectively.
Chop Dawg’s commitment extended well beyond app design:
We navigated Apple’s and Google’s guidelines, ensuring the dance routines, push notifications, and integrated commerce were fully approved for quick, hassle-free app launches.
From safeguarding user profiles to verifying payment integrations, our team ensured all data was encrypted, stable, and primed to scale alongside LA Gear’s growing audience.
By combining app store optimization (ASO) with strategic cross-promotion on social media and the LA Gear website, we helped build anticipation for the app’s release—tapping into a broad user base of fitness enthusiasts and loyal fans of the brand’s retro flair.
Our structured approach to project management involved weekly status calls, daily Slack updates, and collaborative design iterations in Figma. This open dialogue allowed LA Gear’s team to provide timely feedback, ensuring the final product captured their signature aesthetics while meeting user needs for a dynamic, dance-driven workout app. By staying in sync at every milestone, we forged a partnership that elevated every aspect of LA Gear’s digital presence.
Within weeks of unveiling the prototype, LA Gear captured the attention of both longtime fans and a fresh audience hungry for at-home dance workouts. Early sign-ups surged, validating the app’s promise to deliver authentic retro style alongside modern fitness innovation.
Challenging dance routines, community discussions, and instant discounts sparked impressive user retention. Over 80% of initial users returned monthly for new workouts and gear, proving that playful gamification and brand nostalgia create a compelling, loyalty-driven ecosystem.
Thanks to in-app shopping, LA Gear saw a marked increase in merchandise sales. By linking badges and achievements to special offers, the brand fostered a continuous loop of engagement, workouts, and convenient gear purchases—directly boosting revenue and brand visibility.
Thanks to Chop Dawg’s commitment and expertise, we’ve seen remarkable results from our fitness application. Their thoroughness from design to backend development has been exceptional, and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome. What impressed me most about Chop Dawg is their ability to think outside the box. They are fully invested in our project, providing valuable insights and support, making the entire experience feel collaborative and engaging. I feel lucky to have them as partners.
President of LA Gear
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Picture your brand’s heritage and vision transformed into a captivating digital product that resonates with modern audiences. If you’re ready to unite a loyal fan base, elevate consumer engagement, and monetize your ideas—let’s talk. Schedule your complimentary 45-minute consultation, and we’ll explore how our expertise can bring your own app concept to life with style, innovation, and measurable impact.
