The History of DC Shoes


Beginnings
DC Shoes specializes in footwear for skateboarders, snowboarders, BMXers and participants in other extreme sports. The company also sells snowboards and street clothing. With its roots in making unique T-shirts for skaters, the company is now a technical shoe specialist and was the first to produce a technical skateboarding shoe. DC Shoes sponsors sports teams and events, working to create skater-friendly environments.

image credits: snowboarder.eu

In 1989, 20-year-old snowboarder Ken Block created his first screen-printed T-shirts for skateboarders. These shirts became the Eightball line, launching a new business. While studying computer design at Palomar Community College, Block met his partner, Damon Way, who helped him sell and distribute the clothes. Damon's pro-skateboarding brother, Danny, would later endorse the new T-shirt line.

With a $10,000 loan from Block's parents, the two men moved into a rented warehouse, bringing in Aaron Lovejoy to do the printing as sales began to skyrocket.

REEBOK HISTORY

1890-1930's


J.W. Foster and Spikes of Fire

Reebok's United Kingdom-based ancestor company was founded for one of the best reasons possible: athletes wanted to run faster. So, in the 1890s, Joseph William Foster made some of the first known running shoes with spikes in them. By 1895, he was in business making shoes by hand for top runners; and before long his fledgling company, J.W. Foster and Sons, developed an international clientele of distinguished athletes. The family-owned business proudly made the running shoes worn in the 1924 Summer Games by the athletes celebrated in the film "Chariots of Fire."

image credits: flick.com

1950-1980


A Gazelle Named Reebok, A Company on the Move

In 1958, two of the founder's grandsons started a companion company that came to be known as Reebok, named for an African gazelle. In 1979, Paul Fireman, a partner in an outdoor sporting goods distributorship, spotted Reebok shoes at an international trade show. He negotiated for the North American distribution license and introduced three running shoes in the U.S. that year. At $60, they were the most expensive running shoes on the market.


1980's


By 1981, Reebok's sales exceeded $1.5 million, but a dramatic move was planned for the next year. In 1982, Reebok introduced the first athletic shoe designed especially for women; a shoe for a hot new fitness exercise called aerobic dance. The shoe was called the Freestyle™, and with it Reebok anticipated and encouraged three major trends that transformed the athletic footwear industry: the aerobic exercise movement, the influx of women into sports and exercise and the acceptance of well-designed athletic footwear by adults for street and casual wear. Explosive growth followed, which Reebok fueled with new product categories, making Reebok an industry leader.

In the midst of surging sales in 1985, Reebok completed its initial public offering (stock symbol is NYSE: RBK). A year later, Reebok made its first strategic acquisition, The Rockport Company. Rockport was a pioneer in using advanced materials and technologies in traditional shoes and the first company to engineer walking comfort in all types of dress and casual shoes. In the late 1980s, Reebok began an aggressive expansion into overseas markets and Reebok products are now available in more than 170 countries and are sold through a network of independent and Reebok-owned distributors.

Creating innovative products that generate excitement in the marketplace has been a central corporate strategy ever since Reebok introduced the Freestyle. In the late 1980s, a particularly productive period began with The Pump® technology and continues today, with breakthrough concepts and technologies for numerous sports and fitness activities.


1990's


In 1992, Reebok began a transition from a company identified principally with fitness and exercise to one equally involved in sports by creating several new footwear and apparel products for football, baseball, soccer, track and field and other sports. That same year, Reebok began its partnership with golfer Greg Norman, resulting in the creation of The Greg Norman Collection.

In the late 1990s, Reebok made a strategic commitment to align its brand with a select few of the world’s most talented, exciting and cutting-edge athletes. Since then, the company has focused on those athletes who represent the top echelon of sports and fitness.


2000


In 2000, Reebok and the National Football League announced an exclusive partnership that serves as a foundation of the NFL’s consumer products business. The NFL granted a long-term exclusive license to Reebok beginning in the 2002 NFL season to manufacture, market and sell NFL licensed merchandise for all 32 NFL teams. The license includes on-field uniforms, sideline apparel, practice apparel and an NFL-branded footwear and apparel collection.

2001


In 2001, Reebok formed a long-term strategic partnership with the National Basketball Association under which Reebok designs, manufactures, sells and markets licensed merchandise for the NBA, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the National Basketball Development League (NBDL), the NBA’s minor league. Reebok secured the exclusive rights to supply and market all on-court apparel, including uniforms, shooting shirts, warm-ups, authentic and replica jerseys and practice gear for all NBA, WNBA and NBDL teams. Reebok also had exclusive rights, with limited exceptions, to design, manufacture, market and sell headwear, T-shirts, fleece and other apparel products for all teams in most channels of distributions. In 2006, Reebok transferred the NBA rights to the adidas Brand.

2002


In 2002, Reebok launched Rbk – a collection of street-inspired footwear and apparel hook-ups designed for the young man and woman who demand and expect the style of their gear to reflect the attitude of their lives: cool and edgy, authentic and aspirational. Inspired by street fashion, Rbk’s marketing is culturally relevant as well. With many of the industry’s most marketable and valuable sports assets on its roster, Reebok rolled-out an integrated marketing campaign that fused together sports, music, technology and entertainment, and was designed to connect the Reebok Brand to millions of new consumers around the world. The global marketing campaign was launched in early 2002 and featured select Reebok athletes paired with some of the music industry’s most successful hip-hop and rap artists. Reebok tapped into something the industry had not yet seen, and became a pioneer in the fusion of sports, music and technology.

2003


2003 was a landmark year for Rbk. Reebok formed an unprecedented partnership with rap musician Jay-Z, which included the design and marketing of the "S. Carter Collection by Rbk," which launched in April. With the partnership, Jay-Z became the first non-athlete to have a signature athletic footwear collection. The launch of Jay Z’s first shoe was extremely successful around the world. Later that year, Reebok teamed up with another superstar of the rap world, 50 Cent. The result was the equally successful “G Unit Collection by Rbk.” 

2004


In 2004, Reebok became the world’s leading producer of hockey apparel and equipment with its acquisition of The Hockey Company. The Hockey Company’s brands, CCM, Koho and Jofa, are among the most respected in the sport.

Reebok has a long-term licensing agreement with the National Hockey League, under which the company serves as the supplier of authentic “on-ice” game jerseys to all 30 NHL teams. It also has the exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture and market authentic, replica and practice jerseys using the names and logos of the NHL and its teams. Reebok also has exclusive agreements with the Canadian Hockey League, the American Hockey League and the East Coast Hockey League.


2005


In early 2005, Reebok launched Rbk Hockey, a new and innovative line of ultra-high performance hockey equipment, sticks and skates and signed hockey phenom Sidney Crosby, who has lived up to his billing as the league’s next great player. In two short years, Rbk Hockey has become one of the most visible and in-demand hockey brands on the market.

In 2005, Reebok launched its largest global integrated marketing and advertising campaign in nearly a decade. "I Am What I Am" is a multi-faceted campaign which links all of the brand's marketing and advertising efforts under the "I Am What I Am" umbrella. The campaign encourages young people to embrace their own individuality by celebrating their contemporary heroes. Celebrities featured in the campaign include music icons Jay-Z, Daddy Yankee and 50 Cent; top athletes Allen Iverson, Donovan McNabb, Curt Schilling, Kelly Holmes, Iker Casillas and Yao Ming; screen stars Lucy Liu, John Leguizamo and Christina Ricci; and skateboarder Stevie Williams.


2006


In January 2006, adidas-Salomon AG acquired Reebok, forever altering the worldwide sporting goods industry landscape. Shortly after the close of the acquisition, Reebok Chairman and CEO Paul Fireman announced he was leaving the company to pursue other interests, and Paul Harrington was named President and CEO of the Reebok brand. Today, the adidas Group, which includes the adidas, Reebok, TaylorMade-adidas Golf and Rockport brands is a global leader in the sporting goods industry and offers a broad portfolio of products. Products from the adidas Group are available in virtually every country of the world. Activities of the company and its more than 80 subsidiaries are directed from the Group's headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany

2007


Reebok launched Run Easy, one of the most comprehensive running campaigns in the brand’s history. The goal of the campaign was to inspire consumers around the world to fulfill their potential and celebrate their individuality. The message of the campaign was that while many other brands speak about the "blood, sweat and tears" of running, Reebok celebrated the camaraderie, joy and fun of running – Run Easy.

In addition, Reebok's partnership with the National Hockey League took center stage with the unveiling the Rbk Edge Uniform System, a complete, team-wide redesign and re-engineering of the NHL uniform, and the opening of the NHL Powered by Rbk retail store in New York City.

Reebok also launched its "There are Two People in Everyone" marketing campaign for the second half of 2007 in select regions. The global marketing campaign highlights Reebok’s unique brand point of view of celebrating the individual’s balance between sport and life. The campaign, featuring international sport stars such as Allen Iverson, Yao Ming, MS Dohni and Nicole Vaidisova, declared that there is more to an athlete than his or her sport.


2008


Reebok’s global marketing campaign, ‘Your Move’ launched in March of 2008 and evolved Reebok’s positioning as the brand that celebrates individuality and supports those who choose to do things their way. Expressed as a global brand campaign, ‘Your Move’ was an invitation to people to do it their way in sport and in life. The ‘what’s your move?’ ad was a literal expression of this philosophy: key assets including Thierry Henry and Alexander Ovechkin showed us their moves and invited consumers to show us theirs.

In the summer of 2008, Reebok and driving ace Lewis Hamilton announced a multi-year partnership at a spectacular 3-D event in Amsterdam, home of Reebok’s European Headquarters. At the event, Reebok unveiled “The Athlete within the Driver,” gave media a rare insight into Hamilton’s demanding fitness regime. Hamilton revealed how Reebok’s Smoothfit training footwear and apparel range helped him to train better than ever before.



2009


In February 2009, Reebok launched the Jukari Fit to Fly workout, the first in a series of initiatives to come out of a new, long-term partnership with Cirque du Soleil. Jukari Fit to Fly makes fitness fun again by introducing a new way to move. The workout has been created on a specially-designed piece of equipment called the FlySet. The result is a workout that gives the sensation of flying while strengthening and lengthening the body through cardio, strength, balance and core training.

Also in 2009, Reebok launched EasyTone footwear. Featuring first-of-its-kind balance pod technology, the shoe’s proprietary technology was invented by a former NASA engineer.

2010

In 2010, Reebok launched ZigTech, designed to conserve and return energy to the athlete for a soft and springy ride. The one-of-a-kind ZigTech bottom unit features an innovative, lightweight foam that is engineered into a dramatic, geometric, zig-zag shape. The unique zig-shaped sole absorbs the impact of heel strike and sends a wave of energy along the length of the shoe to help propel the athlete forward with each step.

The brand also announced its long-term partnership with NBA standout John Wall. The point guard for the Washington Wizards debuted the ZigSlash during the 2011-2012 NBA season.


2011

In 2011, Reebok formed a long-term alliance with one of the biggest fitness movements of our time, CrossFit. This movement is an experience that eliminates the anonymity of the big gym; involves a Fun and motivating community and the program delivers incredible results.


Reebok also announced its long-term partnership with producer, artist and designer Swizz Beatz. Swizz brings his innovation, fashion design, music and artistic talents to help launch the 2011 Reethym of Lite campaign.

Additionally, Reebok also launched RealFlex, a first-of-its-kind running and training shoe designed to promote natural movement. RealFlex features 76 independent sensors on the bottom of the shoe strategically positioned to twist, bend, expand and support to help athletes’ feet move naturally.

The History of the Converse All Star "Chuck Taylor"
image credits: chucksconnection.com


One of the original All Star basketball shoes.
What is the oldest, most popular, and all time best selling basketball shoe of all time? (As a matter of fact, 60% of all Americans own or have owned at least one pair of these sneakers!) Well it is not the expensive Air Jordans that the Nike Corporation produces! Nor is it made by Fila, Reebok, New Balance, or Adidas. It is the Converse All Star "Chuck Taylor"!

image credits: chucksconnection.com


It was in 1908 that the Converse Rubber Corporation opened for business. At first the company only made galoshes and other work related rubber shoes on a seasonal basis. But eventually the company decided it was more efficient to keep their work force employed year round, and began making athletic shoes. With the popularity of basketball, the Converse Corporation saw the need to develop a shoe that people could wear while playing basketball. After lots of research and development, the very first version of the All Star basketball shoe was produced in 1917. The All Star shoe originally came in natural brown colors with black trim. In the 1920s, Converse All Stars were made in all black canvas or leather versions. The All Star was to be the first mass produced basketball shoe in North America. It consisted of a very thick rubber sole, and a ankle covering canvas (or sometimes leather) upper. At first sales were slow. They would rapidly increase a few years later, thanks to Charles "Chuck" H. Taylor.


Chuck Taylor is smiling every time someone laces up a pair of his "Chuck Taylor" sneakers.

Charles H. Taylor was a basketball player for the Akron Firestones. He liked what he saw in the All Star shoe and saw its potential for the sport of baskteball As a matter of fact, he believed in the shoe so much that in 1921 he joined the Converse sales force, and later became the player/coach for the Converse All-Stars, the company's industrial league basketball. team. Throughout his career with Converse, Taylor traveled all across the United States hosting basketball clinics and promoting the All Star shoe. His personal salemanship plus clever marketing devices like the Converse Basketball Yearbooks put his imprint on the sport at all team levels. But the Converse Corporation also bestowed something else on him. Because he was so successful in promoting the All Star sneaker, as well as making important changes in the original All Star shoe, in 1932, his name "Chuck Taylor" was added to the ankle patch. Hence the "Chuck Taylor" All Star basketball shoe was born!



The optical white model was introduced at the 1936 Olympics.

image credits: chucksconnection.com


Soon basketball teams as well as American boys were wearing Converse "Chuck Taylor" All Stars. In the 1930s Chuck Taylor designed the optical white high top model for the 1936 Olympics, and the shoe with its patriotic red and blue trim became very popular along with all black canvas and leather models of the All Star. During World War II, Chuck Taylor served as a captain in the Air Force and coached regional basketball teams, considered an important morale booster for the troops. And the All Star "Chuck Taylor" went off to war as GI's did their exercises in the white high top chucks that became the "official" sneaker of the United States Armed Forces.

After World War II, the classic black and white Chuck Taylor All Star High Top was introduced, a much more eye-catching shoe than the monochrome black models that had been produced up to that time. Basketball was now a major professional sport, with the merger of the National Baskeball League and the Basketball Association of America becoming the National Basketball Association (NBA). Chuck Taylor All Stars were the shoe for professional, college and all serious players, and these distinctive black or white high tops were part of the look of each team. In 1957 the low cut All Star was introduced and became poular as a more casual alternative to the high top. By this time Converse had an 80% share of the entire sneaker industry. Because of his tireless efforts, Taylor was called the "Ambassador to Basketball" and in 1968, Chuck Taylor was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, one year later he passed away.

image credits: chucksconnection.com


The classic black and white high top was introduced in 1949.

Along with the passing of Chuck Taylor, went the dominance of the Converse Company as new rival companies stepped in, spearheaded by the NIke Corporation, and began to chip away at the market share and influence of Converse. Lots of changes began to occur in the athletic shoe industry. These rival companies intrroduced new models with new colored looks, all leather uppers, and high tech innovations like pumps and air cells. Although Converse responed by introducing chucks in a variety of colors, and new models like the One Star and Dr. J, teams began abandoning their All Stars and going with other models and brands.

Startinig in the 1970s, athletic shoes became so popular as footwear that adults refused to give up wearing them. Everyone wanted the look and feel of sneakers on their feets. Many new athletic companies emerged and marketed a wide variety of basketball and other sports and leisure shoes.

The Converse "Chuck Taylor" All Star, once the premiere shoe of elite baskteball players now became the shoe of the counter-culture and of baby boomers who refused to stop wearing their favorite pairs of chucks. The shoes became very popular with rock musicians, and younger generations wore them for their distinctive looks, colors, and comfort and as an alternative to the high priced high performance shoes made by Nike and other companies. They were considered a leisure shoe and now were purchased because they were fashionable. Converse repsonded by manufacturing chucks in hundreds of different variations that included prints, patterns, unusual colors, and special models for different age groups.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Converse Company began to experience hard times. The ownership and management of the Converse Company changed several times. These changes and bad business decisions along with their loss of market share took its toll on the company, and in 2001 they filed for bankruptcy. But the brand was too well established to abandon, and new ownership took over, closing all North American manufacturing and moving the manufacture of Converse athletic shoes from the USA to Asia. The brand was reestablished successfully and the company was eventually purchased by its rival, Nike.

Despite all of the innovations and changes in the athletic shoe industry, "Chuck Taylor" athletic shoes continue to live on! Thousands of pairs of high top and low cut chucks are still sold each week worldwide. As of today more than 800,000,000 pairs of chucks have been sold. Unlike other sneakers that lose their popularity, the Converse All Star "Chuck Taylor" still remains fashionable. Converse All Star "Chuck Taylors" are over 75 years old but still going strong! And since 1949, except for the addition of new colors, original "Chuck Taylors" have not changed one bit -- and they never will!

THE ADIDAS HISTORY
image credits: daniyaltanveer.wikispaces.com

Supra Sneakers - History Of Supra Footwear

The trendiest sneakers in the sneaker industry at themoment are Supra Sneakers. Supra Footwear launched in 2005 when Angel Cabada decided to expanded his interest in making cool, fashionable gear to include sneakers.


Angel Cabada grew up in Orange, County, California where he fell in love with skateboarding. He tried working regular jobs, but nothing lasted very long. So he decided to break the mold and make clothes with some friends.

His first brand was TSA. TSA lasted about 10 years before Angel split up with his partner. He learned a lot about the business through his experience with TSA. In 2002, he started KR3W which is still going strong under the umbrella company One Distribution. One Distribution covers both KR3W and Supra Footwear. The original plan was to make KR3W Footwear, but Angel realized this would be a conflict of interest for people he worked with so he made a whole new company which he named Supra Footwear. The name Supra is Latin for "above and beyond". Angel wanted to do something to complement hisclothing line, and he thought the shoes out there were too chunky.




His first Men's Supra Sneakers were the Skytops. When Angel first made the Skytop, a lot of people made fun of him. But it sold so fast it's clear who had the last laugh. The Skytop is still very popular and you can buy it right here at the SoHo Sneaker Shop http://www.sohosneakershop.com.


Angel doesn't pay anyone to wear Supra Sneakers. He gives free samples to his friends and they wear them because they like them. Among those who wear Supra are Steve Aoki, Chad Muska, and Samantha Ronson who wears Women's Supra Sneakers. One reason for their popularity is that people respond to the genuineness of the brand. Real skaters wear them because real skaters like them. When Angel made the Gold 14k Edition with Chad Muska, the consumer interest was as high as interest generally associated with Nike. The 413 Silver Edition sold out in thirty minutes. Supra's NS line was released in fashion driven trade shows instead of skate shops. Everything was black and white to begin with.


A crowning moment for Supra was when Little Wayne and Jay Z wore Skytops at the BET awards. The Supra Sneaker line is a great sneaker that not only looks awesome, but is a genuine skate shoe.

image credits: nikeinc.com


It started with a handshake between two visionary Oregonians - Bowerman and his University of Oregon runner Phil Knight. They and the people they hired evolved and grew the company that became Nike from a U.S.-based footwear distributor to a global marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and equipment that is unrivaled in the world.

*IF YOU HAVE A BODY, YOU ARE AN ATHLETE


When Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman made this observation many years ago, he was defining how he viewed the endless possibilities for human potential in sports. He set the tone and direction for a young company created in 1972, called Nike, and today those same words inspire a new generation of Nike employees.


Our goal is to carry on his legacy of innovative thinking, whether to develop products that help athletes of every level of ability reach their potential, or to create business opportunities that set Nike apart from the competition and provide value for our shareholders.


It started with a handshake between two visionary Oregonians - Bowerman and his University of Oregon runner Phil Knight. They and the people they hired evolved and grew the company that became Nike from a U.S.-based footwear distributor to a global marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and equipment that is unrivaled in the world.


Along the way, Nike has established a strong Brand Portfolio with several wholly-owned subsidiaries including Cole Haan, Converse Inc., Hurley International LLC, NIKE Golf, and Umbro Ltd.


Our world headquarters is located near Beaverton, Oregon, a suburb of Portland. So while the Pacific Northwest is the birthplace to Nike, today we operate in more than 160 countries around the globe. Through our suppliers, shippers, retailers and other service providers, we directly or indirectly employ nearly one million people.


That includes more than 35,000 Nike employees across six continents, each of whom make their own contribution to fulfill our mission statement: to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.

On March 16th, 1966, at street 704E Broadway, in Anaheim, California, Paul Van Doren and three partners opened up their first ever store and the Vans dream was born.  The Van Doren Rubber Company was unique in that it manufactures shoes and sells them directly to the public.  On that first morning, 12 customers purchase shoes which are made that day and ready for pick-up in the afternoon.  The Vans #44 deck shoes, which is now known as the Authentic were born. image credits:deviantart.com Skateboarders who like Vans rugged make-up and sticky sole are seen sporting Vans all over Southern California in the early 1970s.  In 1975, the Vans #95, known today as the Era was designed by Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta.  With a padded collar and different colour combinations the Era becomes the shoe of choice for a generation of skateboarders. In 1979, Vans introduce the #44 shoe, and with the help of skateboarders and BMX riders the Vans Slip-On became all the rage in Southern California.  By the end of the 1970s, Vans had 70 stores in California and sells through dealers  both nationally and internationally. As the 1980s rolled around, Paul Van Doren began to take a lesser role in the companies’ activities.  Over this period, Vans started to create shoes for a number of sports from baseball, basketball and wrestling to skydiving in an effort to compete with large athletic shoe companies. Vans Slip-Ons gained international attention and appeal when they were worn by Sean Penn in the 1982, iconic youth film “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”  Although Vans core shoes were selling well, the wide range of products that the company now offered had drained the companies resources, and with Vans not able to overcome it’s debt they were forced to file for bankruptcy in 1983. Just three years on, Vans had paid back all creditors and emerges from bankruptcy.  In 1988 Vans original owners sell to an investment banking firm, and with the new owners financial backing, Vans expands and increases its worldwide presence. Vans begins manufacturing footwear overseas in 1994, allowing for development of new shoe styles, and huge expansion occurs.   Vans then begins creating the world’s leading action sport series with the sponsorship of the inaugural Triple Crown of skateboarding, which then develops into the Vans Triple Crown series which includes events in skateboarding, BMX, surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, motocross and super cross. 1998 sees Vans open the first of its kind, a 46,000 square-foot indoor-outdoor Vans Skate park at the Block in Orange County.  Vans makes initial public offering of stock, which is now traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Vans are recognized by Forbes in 2000 and then again in 2001 as one of “America’s Best Small Companies.”  2001 sees Vans financing the production of Dogtown and Z-Boys, Stacy Peralta’s look at the beginnings of skateboarding and the personalities that evolved the sport.  The film takes the Audience Award and the Best Director Award at the Sundance Film Festival.  The film is narrated by Sean Penn.  The same year Vans buys controlling interest of the Vans Warped Tour, the nation’s leading action sports and music festival. 2004 Vans launches Vans Customs at www.vans.com , allowing would-be fashion designers to create their own Classic Slip-ons utilizing hundreds of different colour and pattern combinations.  Vans stage what many consider to be the best bowl contest of all time, the inaugural Pro-tec Pool Party 2005 which took place in the replica of the legendary Combi Bowl at the Vans Skate Park at the Block at Orange.  The same year, the Vans Warped Tour draws more than 680,000 punk fans during the summer, solidifying its position as America’s longest running concert series.  Vans adopt a new concept in skate street contests with the Vans Downtown Showdown, held in the Universal Studios Back Lot on Labour Day. Vans continues to forge innovative collaborations through the Vault by BVans line with Vans sneaker combinations with design giant Marc Jacobs and OC up-and-comers Trovata flying off the shelves.  In 2006 Vans celebrates 40 years at the heart of youth culture.