Stephen Curry Signs Endorsement Deal with Li-Ning

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has signed an endorsement agreement with Chinese brand Li-Ning after parting ways with Under Armor.

ESPN reports that this deal spans ten years and aims to globally expand Curry’s Curry Brand. Curry opted for Li-Ning over various offers from both American and international companies, influenced in part by the comfort of the shoes as experienced by two of Li-Ning’s players during tests.

Li-Ning intends to establish Curry-branded stores in both the United States and China, with Curry’s agent, Jeff Austin, finalizing the negotiations recently. The announcement of their partnership took place on social media on Monday, but specific terms of the deal weren’t made public.

As noted in various reports, the Chinese government has a concerning track record involving forced labor in its manufacturing processes. In April, a report indicated that materials sourced from East Turkestan, referred to by the Chinese Communist Party as ‘Xinjiang’, were found in dolls that have gained worldwide popularity.

An independent lab found evidence that cotton used in some of these dolls sold in the U.S. came from Xinjiang, a region where forced labor is often part of cotton production, according to the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

A UN agency also reported earlier this year that China has significantly increased its state-sponsored slavery practices, inflicting torture on various ethnic groups, while forcing rural populations into labor for cotton harvesting and manufacturing solar panels.

In March, the European Commission announced an investigation into the Chinese fast fashion app Shein, highlighting issues related to its highly addictive interface and the sale of controversial products.