Iiley Thompson Sr.
I've been a footwear developer since 1984: Nike, adidas, Under Armour, and Huk, and since 2019, Double i Works, where I work directly with a small number of outdoor brands.
- In footwear
- Since 1984
- Focus today
- Hunting, waterfowl, fishing, and outdoor footwear
- Disciplines
- Development, sourcing, costing, factory operations, wear testing
- Education
- George Fox University
- Based
- Cannon County, Tennessee
I'm Iiley Thompson Sr., a footwear developer and the founder of Double i Works. I worked in footwear development at Nike from 1984 to 1998, was Director of Development for footwear at adidas from 1998 to 2005, held development, sourcing, and outdoor footwear roles at Under Armour from 2005 to 2016, and was Vice President of Footwear at Huk from 2016 to 2019.
Forty years, one discipline
Every role has been the same job at a different scale: turn a brand's idea of a boot or shoe into something that fits, performs, costs what it should, and arrives on time.
Double i Works
Founder · Principal developerI started it outside Portland, Oregon; today we're based in Middle Tennessee. Development, sourcing, and production management for outdoor brands, including senior footwear guidance for Chêne Gear.
Huk
Vice President, FootwearFootwear strategy, product creation, sourcing, development, and operations for a performance fishing brand, working with specialized outdoor factories and premium outdoor retail accounts.
Under Armour
Director of Development · Sr. Director, Development & Sourcing · GM, Outdoor FootwearEleven years across footwear development, sourcing, and the outdoor footwear business: factory relationships, calendars, costing, materials, quality, and Asia operations, with partners including Gore-Tex, PrimaLoft, Realtree, and Mossy Oak.
adidas
Director of Development, FootwearDevelopment, costing, commercialization, and delivery timing for U.S.-based in-line footwear, along with sourcing planning and the seasonal calendar.
Nike
Footwear developmentFourteen years in footwear development. This is where I learned the work.
"We don't want you to have to fit into some system. We answer the questions before they're asked. That's what makes us different."Iiley Thompson Sr.
What forty years in development brings to your boot
Outdoor, specifically
Waterproof, insulated, rubber, and deck footwear each have their own constructions and factories. I know which is which, and what goes wrong in each.
Cost designed in early
Costing has been part of every role. Margin gets designed into the boot at the spec stage, not clawed back after the first production run.
Factory relationships
Decades of work with factories in the U.S. and Asia means your program starts with people who already know how I work.
Calendars that hold
Seasonal calendars at large brands teach a simple rule: late decisions cost seasons. I set the calendar on day one and keep it.
Testing in real conditions
Fit trials, lab tests, and field wear tests are planned into every sample round, so problems surface before customers find them.
Senior hands, start to finish
You aren't handed to a junior team after the first call. The person who scopes your program is the person who reviews your samples.
About me
Where have you worked?
Nike (footwear development, 1984–1998), adidas (Director of Development, Footwear, 1998–2005), Under Armour (Director of Development; Sr. Director, Development and Sourcing; and GM, Outdoor Footwear, 2005–2016), and Huk (Vice President, Footwear, 2016–2019). I founded Double i Works in 2019 and lead it today.
What kind of footwear do you focus on now?
Outdoor footwear: hunting and waterfowl boots, fishing and deck footwear, and hiking and outdoor boots, for brands with loyal customers and high standards.
Are you the same person as Iiley Thompson Jr.?
No. Iiley Jr. is my son and my partner in Double i Works. He runs the commercial side of the business, and he also founded Double i Digital, a performance marketing agency.
Can I work with you directly?
Yes. We take on a small number of programs so I can stay hands-on from the brief through production. Tell us about your project to start the conversation.
Tell us what you're building.
Share the brand, the category, and where you are today. If it's a fit, you'll talk directly with me. We're glad to sign your NDA before the first call.
- Phone
- (615) 229-6265
- Based
- Cannon County, Tennessee
- Factories
- United States and Asia