Lanny Smith went from an NBA player to a successful athletic apparel entrepreneur.

In 2009, Lanny Smith's dream of playing in the NBA became a reality with his signing to the Sacramento Kings. However, only 33 days later, his NBA career was abruptly cut short due to a devastating knee injury. Devastated by this unexpected turn of events, Smith was forced to embark on an odyssey of self-discovery and purpose. This journey ultimately led him to the realm of sports apparel, and in 2011, his brand, Active Faith, was born.

Active Faith is a faith-based sports apparel brand that incorporates motivational quotes and scriptures into its designs. Smith was able to grow his brand into a global e-commerce business with customers in 73 countries, and in its first year, the brand earned $100,000 in revenue, eventually making it a successful $7 million business.

Despite the success of his brand, Smith faced difficulties in securing investments to expand into retail stores, including investors pulling out due to his ethnicity. However, Smith was inspired by the heartwarming emails from customers and the need for greater representation. This led him to create Actively Black, an apparel line focused on uplifting and representing the Black community, while maintaining ownership of Active Faith.

The pandemic exposed the performative nature of many brands' pledges to support the Black community following the police killing of George Floyd. This prompted Smith to create a brand that truly represented the community. On Black Friday in 2020, Actively Black was launched, symbolizing a commitment to year-round authenticity.

Smith has made it his mission to deprogram and reprogram the mentality of Black people who may not believe in their own worth. With creative partnerships with entities like Teleport Watches, Marvel, The Bobsled and Skeleton Federation of Nigeria, Slam Magazine, and NIL deals with four HBCU athletes, the brand has stayed true to its values while fostering growth.

Additionally, Smith has donated $500,000 to organizations like the Liberation Fund, Compton Girls Club, Black Girls Smile, Black Girls and Black Boys Code, Ujima, and Black Mamas Matter Alliance. He wants to build Actively Black into more than just an athleisure line; he wants it to be a movement, uniting the diaspora and transforming the lives and beliefs of Black people worldwide.

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