| | |
| Industry | footwear |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1947 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Parent | KP Global |
| Website | palladiumboots |
Palladium Boots is a French footwear brand best known for its lightweight cotton canvas boots. [1] The brand is owned by KP Global. [2]
Palladium was initially founded to supply equipment such as tyres for the aviation industry in 1920. After the end of World War II, the brand shifted to making shoes with rubber soles. [3] The Palladium Pallabrouse boot was first invented in 1947 and was designed for the French Foreign Legion as a lightweight, quick-drying combat boot for soldiers in the French colonial empire. Two years later, Palladium released the Pampa boot. [4] [3] In 1951, Palladium introduced the Palla Louvel basketball shoes, which became the official shoe of ASVEL Basket and was heavily endorsed by Alain Gilles. [5] The Pallatennis sneakers became the unofficial shoes of student leaders during the social uprisings of 1968. [4] The Pampa boot was given a modern reinterpretation in 2017, with Canadian singer Shawn Mendes wearing a pair at Coachella. [6] [7]
In 2019, Chinese firm Xtep acquired Palladium, along with K-Swiss and Supra, from South Korean firm E-Land Group. [8] Xtep created the KP Global division to handle the Palladium and K-Swiss brands. Five years later, Xstep sold KP Global to controlling shareholder Ding Shuibo and his family. [2]