Reebok Classic Explained

Reebok Classic
Type:Footwear
Currentowner:Reebok
Country:United States
Markets:Worldwide

Reebok Classic is a lifestyle shoe brand that consists of athletic shoes that became popular casual wear.[1] [2] The brand evolved from the Classic Leather, the Workout, the Ex-O-Fit, the Newport Classic and the Freestyle.[2] Reebok Classic also includes Retro Running, Retro Basketball, InstaPump Fury and contemporary styles.

Product history

Franchise 5

In 1982, the Freestyle, the first athletic shoe designed for women, was introduced.[3] [4] The shoe popularized the aerobic exercise movement, encouraged women to participate in sports and began the acceptance of athletic footwear as street and casual wear.[3] In 1983, Reebok launched the Classic Leather, a running shoe.[5] [6] [7] It gained popularity as casual wear because of its simple design in comparison to the technical running footwear designs that followed the Classic Leather's release.[5] A print advertisement showing a couple on a motorcycle with the tag line "You've Arrived" was created for the shoe.[6] That year, the Newport Classic (NPC) and Ex-O-Fit were launched.[8] [9] The Ex-O-Fit was similar to the Freestyle, but designed for men.[6] In 1985, the Workout was launched as a cross-training shoe.[6] [10] [11] The shoe's simple look made it popular as casual wear.[6]

Retro Running

Reebok Classic established the Retro Running line to re-introduce popular shoe styles from the past.[12] The GL 6000 was a lightweight running and training shoe created to provide maximum stability.[12] The shoe was first released in 1986 and has been re-released to honor the shoe's history and illustrate its timeless appeal.[12] In 1990, the Ventilator, a lightweight flexible running shoe, was launched.[13] [14] The Ventilator's versatility made the shoe popular.[15] Reebok Classic re-released the Ventilator "Tonal Ballistic" and "Heritage" limited edition packs in 2014.[13] [15] The DMX Run was launched in 1997.[16] [17] The shoe debuted Reebok's DMX technology, a system in which air runs through connected pods and releases energy.[17] DMX was later used in Allen Iverson's second shoe.[16] Reebok Classic re-released the shoe for the first time in October 2012.[18]

Retro Basketball

The Reebok Pump was introduced as a basketball shoe in 1989.[19] It was the first shoe to have an internal inflation mechanism designed to provide a customized fit.[20] Over a four-year period the shoe sold over 20 million pairs worldwide.[20] In 1992, the Shaq Attaq was released during the NBA season.[21] It was Shaquille O'Neal's first signature shoe and the first official shoe for a Reebok athlete.[21] The shoe gained popularity because it was featured on basketball cards, video games, Pepsi commercials and movies.[22] The retro version of the Shaq Attaq was released in April 2013.[22] The Reebok Kamikaze, Shawn Kemp's signature line, was launched in 1995.[23] That year, the Shaqnosis was launched. The shoe was worn by Will Smith in Men in Black.[24] In 1996, the Reebok Question Mid, Allen Iverson's signature shoe, was launched.[25] The shoe became popular because it was clean and wearable.[25] Iverson's fan-base also attributed to the Reebok Question Mid's popularity.[25]

InstaPump Fury

The InstaPump Fury was released in 1994.[26] The shoe was lace-less and featured Reebok's pump technology, a reduced midsole, Hexalite cushioning and a fully synthetic upper.[26] That year, Steven Tyler wore the shoe during a performance at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards.[27] The shoe was inducted into the Design Museum of London.[28] It has received numerous re-releases and new colorways.[28]

In pop culture

Alicia Keys, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Travi$ Scott, Mike Skinner (musician) and Kid Ink have collaborated with Reebok Classic.[29] [30] Swizz Beatz, a hip-hop recording artist and producer, was the creative director of Reebok as of 2013.[31]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Reebok Classics. September 22, 2014. Liv Siddall. November 25, 2014. It's That Nice.
  2. Web site: An Interview with Ryan Cross of Reebok Classics. February 19, 2013. Jonathan Poh. November 25, 2014. Hype Beast.
  3. Web site: The history of Reebok. March 8, 2007. November 25, 2014. Football Shirt Culture.
  4. Web site: Black History Fashion Trend: Reebok Freestyle Hi-Tops aka 54-11's. February 17, 2010. November 25, 2014. Fashion Bomb Daily.
  5. Web site: Reebok 30th Anniversary Classic Leather. November 25, 2014. Hype Beast.
  6. Web site: 20 Sneakers That Have Lived Double Lives. October 4, 2013. Nick Engvall. November 25, 2014. Complex.
  7. Web site: Sneaker Sunday: 30 Years of Reebok Classic . March 24, 2013 . Kaash Sethi . November 25, 2014 . MTV UK . dead . https://archive.today/20141126050041/http://origin-style-mtv-co-uk.vimn-q.mtvi.com/article/topic/style/1npr61/sneaker-sunday-30-years-of-reebok-classic/caguty?start=15&baseOffset=0&cpType=theLatest . November 26, 2014 .
  8. Web site: A Visual Compendium of Sneakers. August 2013. November 25, 2014.
  9. Web site: Reebok Newport Classic. November 25, 2014.
  10. Web site: Reebok Workout Clean Henna/White. February 20, 2014. November 25, 2014.
  11. Web site: Reebok Classics Workout Plus Gore-Tex Preview. November 25, 2014.
  12. Web site: Reebok's Retro Runner Invasion. August 7, 2013. November 25, 2014.
  13. Web site: Travi$ Scott, YG & French Montana Rock Reebok Ventilator "Tonal Ballistic". September 22, 2014. Spencer Lund. November 25, 2014.
  14. Web site: These 1990-Inspired Reebok Shoes Are Actually Pretty Sweet. Jack Archer. November 25, 2014.
  15. Web site: Industrial Spaces Inspire New Reebok Ventilator Pack. October 6, 2014. Brandon Richard. November 25, 2014.
  16. Web site: 10 Sneakers That Debuted Significant Technology. February 25, 2013. Russ Bengtson. . November 25, 2014.
  17. Web site: Reebok DMX Run 10 Summer 2013 Pack. June 10, 2013. November 25, 2014.
  18. Web site: The Reebok DMX Run is Back, Will You Take to the Track?. October 18, 2012. Riley Jones. November 25, 2014.
  19. News: The History of Reebok in the Sneaker Industry. November 8, 2013. CY Ellis. Hoopsvibe.
  20. Web site: Pump Up and Air Out! The History of Reebok Pump. https://web.archive.org/web/20140915052933/http://www.thatgooddubai.com/pump-up-and-air-out-the-history-of-reebok-pump/. dead. September 15, 2014. November 2, 2014. November 25, 2014.
  21. Web site: Everything You Need To Know: Reebok Shaq Attaq. April 18, 2013. November 25, 2014. Nice Kicks.
  22. Web site: 20 Things You Didn't Know About the Reebok Shaq Attaq. April 18, 2013. Nick Engvall. November 25, 2014. Complex.
  23. Web site: The 25 Best Reebok Basketball Shoes of All Time. March 6, 2012. Brandon Elder. November 24, 2014. Complex.
  24. Web site: Throwback Thursday // Will Smith Wears Reebok Shaqnosis In M.I.B.. July 11, 2013. Nick DePaula. November 25, 2014. Sole Collector.
  25. Web site: THE Past, Present & Future of the Reebok Question. May 25, 2012. Ian Stonebrook. November 25, 2014. Nice Kicks.
  26. Web site: The 25 Best Sneakers of the Past 25 Years. March 18, 2013. Russ Bengston. November 25, 2014. Complex.
  27. Web site: Why People Don't Get the Reebok Insta Pump Fury. May 28, 2014. November 25, 2014. Straatosphere.
  28. Web site: The Oral History of the Reebok Instapump Fury with Designer Steven Smith. February 5, 2014. November 25, 2014. Sole Collector.
  29. Web site: Reebok Exec on Sneaker Collabs With Jay-Z, Pharrell, Tyga & Alicia Keys. June 11, 2013. Jeff Benjamin. November 25, 2014. Fuse.
  30. Web site: Swizz Beatz, French Montana, Kid Ink's Reebok Classics Freestyle At Agenda Las Vegas 2014. February 19, 2014. Trent Clark. November 25, 2014. Hip Hop Wired.
  31. Web site: A History of Celebrities as Brand Creative Directors. March 14, 2013. Sam Lockhart. November 25, 2014. Complex.

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