above: The Revive, Kane’s original shoe.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY VENERA ALEXANDROVA
John Gagliardi, founder and CEO of Kane Footwear, a brand designed for active recovery, moved to New Canaan four years ago and has since made quite a splash. Gagliardi and his wife Heather live on the West side with their four daughters: Olivia 9, Alexandra 7, Sienna 4 and Penelope 2. Olivia and Alexandra play lacrosse, Sienna will start in the spring, and Gagliardi has recently added “coach dad” to his resume.
It’s nearly impossible to walk around town, or anywhere in Fairfield County really, without seeing kids and adults sporting Kanes. When asked about how it feels to see the product he created around his own community, Gagliardi expressed his gratitude and excitement over seeing so many locals wearing Kanes. “It’s been really awesome seeing even the coaches wearing them—the support has been amazing, humbling and is so appreciated,” he said. “It takes a lot to spread the word about a new business and New Canaan has really helped do that.”
STICK SKILLS
When Gagliardi moved to Manhasset, Long Island, from Brooklyn in fourth grade, he had never picked up a lacrosse stick. But before he knew it, he had fallen in love with the wildly popular sport. Playing throughout high school and earning All-American status, he was recruited to play in college. Starting his higher educational career at the University of Virginia, he later transferred to Johns Hopkins, where he was a two-time All-American. Gagliardi then went on to play professional lacrosse for the next ten years. He also played on the U.S. National Men’s Team.
MAKING MAVERIK
Being a sponsored player and knowing that sponsorships don’t last forever, Gagliardi found himself thinking about starting his own company. He began researching how he might create his own lacrosse brand. Gagliardi attended golf shows to get a better understanding of the technology being used for shafts and heads, and he consulted with hockey specialists to learn more about what went into creating padding and get advice on developing new designs. In 2005, Gagliardi launched his first lightweight shaft under his new brand, Maverik. The product, which he named Wonder Boy, was constructed of a special blended material consisting of titanium and aluminum that allowed for a quality combination of durability and strength. Maverik quickly grew to become one of the top lacrosse product lines and in 2010 Gagliardi sold the company to Kohlberg & Company, who also purchased Bauer Hockey and merged the two companies.
COMBINING PASSIONS
After considering his next move, Gagliardi decided to go back to his roots. Shoes had always a big part of his life. Growing up, his father had owned a footwear store, where Gagliardi started working at the age of ten. Inspired by both his passion for sports and shoes, he decided he wanted to create a recovery shoe athletes could wear after playing sports. He also wanted to make something that could benefit people who had been on their feet all day. Gagliardi began researching once again and set his mind on creating a product with the “recovery of the body and the planet” in mind. He focused on Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) materials and learned that he could create shoes made out of sugar cane, a renewable, planet-friendly material. He began working with a podiatrist and a few ex-Nike designers to create the perfect recovery shoe. He named his new company Kane, a nod to the material the shoes are made from, and launched the Revive shoe in 2021.
BUSINESS BACKGROUND
Gagliardi cut his teeth in the business world at Blue Buffalo. As one of the first five people hired by Bill Bishop, Gagliardi was part of the team that helped build the successful pet-food brand from the ground up. “I got to see how they trademarked and patented everything. Back then there was no way to sell things directly to the consumer, it was a more traditional route of selling through wholesale and resale,” says Gagliardi. “I learned about the business side of raising money through investors and about building websites. It was like going to business school for free. Bill taught me everything I know and now he’s our largest investor and our offices are in the same building in Westport.”
MAKING SOCIAL (MEDIA) CONNECTIONS
Since the launch of his first shoe, Gagliardi used social media to increase brand awareness. That’s where Erik Kennedy from the Seattle Seahawks first learned about Kanes. He later became Gagliardi’s first major sports team client. Shortly thereafter, Brendan Burger from the Los Angeles Rams contacted Gagliardi to learn more about how Kanes could help their players. Kanes’ client list was growing to include professional teams in many different sports. Currently, Gagliardi is working with the New York Jets, Giants and Knicks, the Kansas City Chiefs and the LA Clippers, as well as numerous other MLB and NHL teams.
Not surprisingly, it is also the favorite shoe of the New Canaan Rams and Darien Blue Wave, much to Gagliardi’s delight.
Kane Footwear can be purchased locally at the Athletic Shoe Factory in New Canaan, at the Darien Sports Shop or online at kanefootwear.com where customizable shoes are available.
KANES FOR COLD WEATHER
The Revive AC (All Condition) will be released this fall. While it has of all the same attributes as the original shoe, it will serve as a cold-weather option. Kane lovers will be able to wear the Revive AC in the rain or snow, while also giving their feet a chance to recover. The Revive AC will be available online at kanefootwear.com.
THE KANE SUSTAINABILITY EFFORT
Once your Kane shoes have had enough wear and tear, you can donate them back to the company and you’ll receive a $10 gift card for your next order. Kane takes the old shoes and upcycles them to make environmentally friendly yoga and changing mats.
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THE SCIENCE BEHIND RECOVERY
BREATHABLE
Perforations on the outside of the shoes allow for airflow
STIMULATING
Nodes on the inside of the insoles utilize pressure points to stimulate blood flow
SUPPORTIVE
Lightweight with strong heel, arch and instep support
REBOUNDING
Foot flows easily from heel to toe
CUSHIONED
Supportive and soft
GRIP
Soles made to provide traction