LaceLocker® Announces Strategic Partnership Opportunities to Expand Patented Footwear Safety Platform.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, June 25, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- LaceLocker, opens new tab®, a patented footwear innovation, is announcing a strategic partnership opportunity designed to accelerate development and expand market reach. With applications across athletics, child safety, caregiving, and wearable technology, the announcement marks a new phase of growth for the brand after 13 years of market validation.
Founded by Carol “Stash” Stanley, LaceLocker developed a patented lace-locking device that secures shoelaces with adjustable tension while helping reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls. According to Stanley, the brand is validated by multiple U.S. patents and has been used by active individuals and children for more than a decade. The company is now inviting collaboration from investors, technological partners, footwear companies, and licensing organizations interested in participating in the next stage of the platform’s evolution.
LaceLocker® has been designed as a transferable device that installs in under sixty seconds without requiring users to cut or replace their laces. Stanley believes the platform’s value extends well beyond a single use case. “The challenge has never been finding one market,” Stanley says. “The device serves athletes, families, caregivers, children, outdoor enthusiasts, and others. What makes LaceLocker compelling is the number of opportunities it creates from one proven platform.”
Stanley observes several partnership pathways, including prototype development for future technology-enabled applications, licensing agreements, strategic ownership participation, and acquisition of the company’s intellectual property portfolio. From her viewpoint, the company is structured to accommodate different forms of collaboration depending on a partner’s expertise and long-term objectives. She says, “We have proven the concept, secured the patents, established manufacturing pathways, and demonstrated demand. The right partnership can help unlock what comes next.”
Part of that vision involves positioning LaceLocker as a foundation for connected footwear applications. The company has explored opportunities for GPS-enabled integration that could support safety-focused solutions for children, neurodivergent individuals, caregivers, and outdoor users. Stanley believes footwear offers an overlooked opportunity within the broader wearable technology landscape because it fits naturally into daily routines.
“People often look at wearable technology through the lens of another device that needs to be carried or charged, but we see an opportunity to build functionality into something people already use every day,” Stanley explains.
The company’s partnership model also reflects the broad applicability of the platform. Stanley notes that potential collaborators may see value in athletic performance, child independence, caregiver support, workplace safety, or connected technology initiatives. She posits that the platform is designed to absorb external technology, not compete with it. Licensing opportunities could allow organizations to integrate their own technologies while leveraging LaceLocker’s established intellectual property and patented locking mechanism.
According to the company, loose shoelaces remain a common contributor to preventable falls and interruptions during physical activity. LaceLocker® was developed to address that issue through a lightweight device that secures tied laces while preserving comfort and fit.
“We are open to conversations with organizations that recognize the potential of the platform,” Stanley says. “Some may want to help build the next generation of the product. Others may want licensing rights or a deeper strategic role. What matters is finding partners who see the opportunity to scale something that already has a strong foundation.”
Ultimately, LaceLocker’s focus remains on expanding the reach of a patented technology that can serve multiple industries while creating new opportunities for innovation in footwear safety and connected mobility.
About LaceLocker
LaceLocker® is a patented device that keeps kids, runners, even golfers, from having their shoe laces becoming undone. This little weightless device securely stores tied laces so that the laces do not flop around, come loose or get dirty or wet. No need to double or triple knot laces either. The functional beauty and elegant simplicity of the LaceLocker gives the user something that simplifies shoe lace storage and because of how well it works, parents, athletes, and sight impaired individuals quickly understand what LaceLocker can do. For more information, visit www.lacelocker.com, opens new tab.
Media Contact
Carol "Stash" Stanley
stash@stashsports.com