 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Lake Forest, California, U.S. |
Key people | Pierre André Sénizergues |
| Products | Shoes, apparel |
| Parent | Nidecker |
| Website | etnies.com |
Etnies (stylized as etnies) is a French-American footwear brand based in Lake Forest, California, United States, and is owned by Sole Technology, Inc. [1] The company sponsors professional skateboarders and BMX riders, LAB more and releases signature shoe models.
The company was launched in 1986 and following the end of his professional skateboarding career, current owner, Pierre André Sénizergues, commenced design work at Etnies shortly after the company's formation. Etnies was an emerging European brand at the time that Sénizergues joined the company and he was responsible for designing the "Senix", "Lo-Cut", "Low-Top Rap", "Intercity" and "Scam" shoe models. Sénizergues subsequently introduced the brand to the US and proceeded to build Sole Technology, with the addition of the Emerica, éS (on hiatus between 2012 and 2014, but back in production), and ThirtyTwo (snowboarding brand created in 1995) brands. [1] [2]
In 2003, Etnies and the city of Lake Forest, California, opened Etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest, the largest public skatepark in the state, at over 40,000 square feet (3,700 m2). [3] The park has been used for a Sole Technology-sponsored skateboard competition, entitled "Goofy vs. Regular (GvR)"—goofy-footed skateboarders competed against regular-footed skateboarders—that was held in 2007 and 2008. [4] [5]
Etnies has a longstanding history of supporting female skateboarders. Early in its history, the brand sponsored Stephanie Pearson, recognized as the first Black woman to become a professional skateboarder. In 2001, Etnies released the "Albatross," the first women's pro signature skate shoe, designed for and endorsed by Elissa Steamer. [6]
In 2016, Etnies partnered with professional skateboarder Amelia Brodka, the founder of Exposure, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women and girls through skateboarding. This collaboration led to the launch of the Etnies x Exposure shoe and apparel line in late 2023, aiming to raise global awareness and support for women's skateboarding. [7]
Etnies continues its commitment to women's skateboarding by supporting athletes like Fabiana Delfino. After participating in her first Exposure event in 2016—which helped launch her professional career—Delfino turned pro for Santa Cruz Skateboards in 2019. She joined the Etnies team in September 2023. Etnies' sponsorship of Delfino and involvement in events like Exposure reflect the brand's dedication to fostering inclusivity and growth within the skateboarding community. [8]
In 2012, the brand donated free shoes to people who were, at the time, "homeless and needy" in Los Angeles, US as part of an Easter "shoe drive". Two thousand pairs of shoes were given away and a video of the event was also published, in which Etnies CEO, Senizergues, conducted interviews with shoe recipients. etnies-sponsored athletes, Devine Calloway, BK, and Andy Bell, Etnies staff, celebrity volunteers and the city's mayor at the time, Antonio Villaraigosa, also participated in the event. [9] [10]
Etnies has launched tree-planting projects in Costa Rica and Brazil under the title of "Buy a Shoe, Plant a Tree". In Costa Rica, Etnies committed to planting a tree in the Maleku rainforest reserve for every pair of Jameson 2 Eco shoes that were sold, and sponsored athletes, Benji Weatherly, CJ Kanuha, Chris Del Moro, and Ryan Sheckler travelled to Costa Rica in March, 2011 for an inaugural tree-planting ceremony. [11] In 2012, the project was then expanded to Brazil, in partnership with the Trees for the Future organization; [12] the Brazilian initiative involved the planting of 100,000 trees within São Paulo's Atlantic Rainforest throughout 2012 for every purchase of the "Jameson 2" and "Jameson 2 Eco" men's and boy's shoes, as well as the girl's "Caprice Eco" and "Circe Eco" shoes. In 2012, Senizergues stated, "We play in our planet, and we need to take care of it. Through our Buy a Shoe, Plant a Tree project we are excited that everyone can come together to be a part of the solution – giving future generations the opportunity to see and experience the benefits these life-giving rainforests bring to the Earth.” [13]
On April 22, 2015, Etnies celebrated Earth Day by announcing a milestone in the program: its one millionth tree planted. The brand also announced that the program, now called "Every Shoe Plants a Tree," will continue in 2015, with every pair of Etnies purchased this year becoming a tree planted in the rain forest. [14]
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