Ashley Park launches first signature sneaker collection with Skechers

Ashley Park released her first signature collection with Skechers named Street Glam on Thursday, People reports. The collaboration features sneakers with neon hues, Skechers’ signature cushioned insoles and a unique pointed-toe shape that combines comfort and fashion.

“I used to think of sneakers as shoes meant for the gym or getting fit. Now these comfortable fashion styles are a staple, and what I wear running around, especially while traveling,” Park said in a statement. “I loved bringing my point of view to this collaboration—from the colors to the dance toe. I’ll have a pair packed for every trip!”

For Park, the combination of comfort and fashion was an important aspect of the sneakers’ design, something she said was especially highlighted during the recent Joy Ride press tour. “There were some days where I would just wear the sneakers instead of the heels that were laid out for me, especially on long work days that are, like, 20 hours,” Park told People. “It’s so nice that I can put on a shoe that feels comfortable, but also, like, oh my God, what a look.”

Park’s inspiration to create a shoe that is both stylish yet easy to wear is also rooted in personal experiences from before her rise to stardom, according to People. “I was a cancer patient when I was in high school, and nurses — people who are on their feet all day — they want to wear sneakers, but they also want to feel like they could go into a board meeting or go out to dinner afterward,” she said. “For me, it was kind of like, okay, how do I make sneakers professional, smart, cool and edgy?”

The shoes’ pointed-toe shape also pays homage to Park’s musical theater background. On Broadway, Park is known for originating the role of Gretchen Wieners in the Mean Girls musical, which earned her Tony Award, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and other nominations.

This collection isn’t the first time Skechers has partnered with Park—it’s not even the first time Skechers has utilized her singing and dancing skills. The actress starred in a musical commercial for the Skechers Uno collection in March, singing, “They look fab, fetch—another pair, oh yes! In my Skechers, I’m obsessed!”

“The theatre has always felt like a home away from home to me, so I love that it’s the set piece of my first Skechers campaign,” she said in a statement. “I’ve had a soft spot in my heart for Skechers ever since my first pair as a kid that I danced around in for all of recess, and now I really am obsessed with these comfy stylish shoes after hours of dancing onstage in them alongside these amazing performers! Feels very full circle and I’m so excited for what comes next!”

Park said that she appreciated the opportunity to work with Skechers to make her vision into reality. “I was so excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Skechers and make a shoe that felt really elevated and that would go with any outfit but doesn’t take away from an outfit,” she said in a behind-the-scenes interview.

“This collaboration is so colorful, vibrant, and I feel like it can go with any situation and a lot of places, and I’m just so excited to be doing one that feels like it’s kind of coming from my own fashion story,” she added. “And for me, I’ve always loved, whether it be in storytelling or in fashion or just in my life and decisions—I love taking risks and doing something for the first time and kind of paving a path in that way, and so I’m super psyched about these shoes.”