Reebok Freestyle Explained

Reebok Freestyle
Currentowner:Reebok
Related:Reebok Classics
Markets:Worldwide

Reebok Freestyle is an athletic shoe introduced in 1982 by Reebok. The Freestyle was the first sneaker designed (by Angel Martinez[1]) and marketed for women.[2] [3] [4] It helped Reebok into the mainstream athletic wear market and fashion scene along with becoming one of the most popular athletic shoes of all time.[5] In 1984, the shoe accounted for more than half of Reebok sales.[6] The Reebok Freestyle was popular during the 1980s aerobics craze[7] [8] and is still in production and remodeled through various collections and style variations.

History

Released in 1982, the Reebok Freestyle was the first athletic shoe designed for women, even though it has also become fairly popular among males.[3] Martinez and Steve Liggett, head of Reebok production, were instrumental developing the shoe.[9] The shoe was made to accommodate aerobics workouts and was released during the height of the 1980s aerobics craze.[10] Fitness Instructor Denise Austin was one first to promote the shoe by wearing them at a sport and fitness exposition in Los Angeles.[11] "I absolutely loved this time in my career, I was the first spokesperson for the very first aerobic shoe," Austin said in a November, 22, 2019 Facebook post.[12] Following the debut and success of the Freestyle, Reebok began sponsoring clinics and workout programs throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The shoes could be seen on the trainers of Jane Fonda workout videos and classes,[2] [13] and the Step Reebok workout routine was released in 1989.[14]

By 1983, Reebok's sales were over $13 million, accounting for half of the company's total sales[6] and the following year concluded with $66 million in sales.[3]

The Freestyle success and the athletic shoe fad of the late 1980s saw new competition from Avia, LA Gear, and Nike. Many competitors, like LA Gear and off-price retailers like Fayva, had models that looked like the Freestyle high-top complete with velcro enclosures.

Description

The Freestyle debuted as a terrycloth lined sneaker with "glove-soft" leather designed for aerobics workouts.[2] The shoe was designed for fitness purposes but became used for casual wear as well.[15] The shoe comes in two different styles including below the ankle, like a tennis shoe, or the high-top style that covers the ankle, like a basketball shoe. The Freestyle high-top features two velcro straps that fasten around the ankle and is made in women's sizes, but is considered unisex, being also worn by men.[16] Both the low-top and high-top were offered in white, black, red, yellow, blue, pink, orange, and green colors over the years.

Athletic use

Consumers were impressed with the styling, comfort, and support the shoe provided for working out. The Freestyle's athletic use spread to walking, bodybuilding, dance, and cheerleading. Ms. Olympia Cory Everson wore Freestyle high-tops frequently in competition, working out, and on ESPN's BodyShaping program. Reebok sponsored the Los Angeles Laker Girls in the late 1980s and supplied them with white Freestyle high-tops. Since then, other professional cheerleading and dance teams have used Freestyles. High school and college cheerleading teams have used Freestyles as their shoe of choice. It is also used in competitive aerobics.

Casual wear

Outside the gym, the Freestyle became popular casual wear. Women could wear Freestyles with jeans, shorts, capri pants, sweatpants, tights or leggings, and even as commuter shoes to work.[13] In the 1980s, Freestyles were often seen with flop or slouch socks which were usually stretched over the bottom of the pant leg to help highlight the shoe.

Styles

After the Freestyle's initial debut, Reebok released various collaborations and special edition styles of the shoe. The Freestyle had several special editions released in the 1980s including the Rainbow Suede version.[17] The Freestyle celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special collection of six limited-edition shoes that debuted at a New York City exclusive event in March 2007. The Reebok sponsored event called "Freestyle Forever" included celebrity guests such as Cybill Shepherd, Brooke Shields, and Tara Reid and highlighted moments in past and present Freestyle history.[18]

In 2008, Reebok introduced a Freestyle collaboration with the French boutique Colette and American women's wear company, Married to the Mob.[19] The Reebok Freestyle - Wonder Woman was released in 2009[20] and had design features such as a red metallic upper with a star-spangled back tab that mimicked the costume of comic book character Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman, and the lace-stay looked similar to the tiara of the superhero while the two gold metallic straps that closely resembled her bracelets.[21]

Alicia Keys teamed up with Reebok in 2012 for a collection of different shoes including high-top Freestyles and Freestyle Double Bubble along with Classic Nylon Slim and Princess sneakers.[22] Reebok introduced collaborations with Takahiro Miyashita and the Sand.W.Man project in 2014 for the Reebok Freestyle high-top and the Reebok Ex-o-Fit released in a signature monochromatic, sandy style look.[23]

In 2018, the Netflix original series GLOW and Reebok Classics teamed up to create two new Freestyle Hi designs to be worn by characters on the show.[24] Costume designer Beth Morgan shared how the partnership came together: "I reached out to Reebok about product placement since we used the shoes so often in the show to see if they had any reproductions of the authentic shoes. Through those conversations, I said it would be awesome to design shoes that were authentic to the period, and they were all on board... The whole idea behind the collaboration is that the product would be in the show, and we could sell them to our fans after we air."[25]

In popular culture

Film
Music
Slang
Television

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Does This Shoe Fit?; Reebok Marketing Ace Stamps His Style on Rockport. October 14, 1995. The Times. September 8, 2019.
  2. Web site: Kicking Up Your Heels Never So Stylish As Now. Sun Sentinel. Hal Rubenstein. September 7, 1986. November 30, 2014.
  3. Web site: Reebok International Ltd. History. Funding Universe. November 30, 2014.
  4. Web site: EasyTone Freestyle HI – In shape in style with a special edition sneakers. 2 Luxury 2. March 10, 2012. November 30, 2014.
  5. Web site: Reebok International Ltd.. Hoovers. November 30, 2014.
  6. Web site: Reebok Freestyle - Museum Recap. Sneaker Freaker. December 31, 2012. November 30, 2014.
  7. News: For Adidas, Reebok Deal Caps Push to Broaden Urban Appeal. The Wall Street Journal. Matthew Karnitschnig. Stephanie Kang. August 4, 2005. November 30, 2014.
  8. Web site: Reebok Freestyle Hi "Exotics" - Black - Metallic Silver. Sneaker News. Patrick Johnson. May 31, 2014. November 30, 2014.
  9. Flipping the Game. Reebok Classic and Gimlet Creative. Scottie Beam. June 18, 2018. June 18, 2018.
  10. Web site: Reebok Freestyle. Kicks On Fire. November 30, 2014.
  11. Flipping the Game. Reebok Classic and Gimlet Creative. Scottie Beam. June 18, 2018. June 18, 2018.
  12. Web site: Today . Getty Images . NBCUniversal . October 25, 2021 . 141125000.
  13. Web site: Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture. Noisey by Vice. Nadja Sayej. November 30, 2014.
  14. News: Nike Trying New Strategies For Women; Company Seeks Merger Of Athletics and Fashion. The New York Times. Edward Wong. June 19, 2001. November 30, 2014.
  15. News: Reebok Sprinting to the Lead: Field of Eager Competitors. Los Angeles Times. Martha Groves. August 3, 1986. November 30, 2014.
  16. News: In Athletic Shoes Reebok Leads the Pack. The New York Times. Anne-Marie Schiro. June 15, 1985. November 30, 2014.
  17. 12 Classic (or Classics-Inspired) Reebok Hi Tops. Bustle. Elizabeth Nolan Brown. October 1, 2013. November 30, 2014.
  18. Web site: Reebok Kicks Off Collection With Retro Bash. BizBash. March 7, 2007. November 30, 2014.
  19. Web site: Reebok Freestyle x Colette x Married to the Mob. Sneaker News. July 25, 2008. November 30, 2014.
  20. Web site: Reebok Freestyle – Wonder Women. Limite Magazine. August 20, 2009. November 30, 2014.
  21. Web site: Wonder Woman Reebok Freestyle. The Shoe Game. August 19, 2009. November 30, 2014.
  22. Web site: Introducing Alicia Keys x Reebok: Or As I Like To Call It "The Perfect Collaboration Ever!". Glamour. Nikki Ogunnaike. September 5, 2012. November 30, 2014.
  23. Web site: Sand.W.Man x Reebok Classics "#003/Dance". Brendan Dunne. June 24, 2014. November 30, 2014.
  24. Web site: Reebok Partners With Netflix's 'GLOW' on '80s-Inspired Kicks — And They're Going to Be on the Show. June 28, 2018.
  25. Web site: 'GLOW' Costume Designer Talks Sneakers & Those '80s Trends You Love to Hate. July 16, 2018.
  26. News: Kosko . Jill S. . 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' succeeds thanks to talented Whoopi's saucy charisma . October 21, 2021 . Daily Collegian . Penn State University . October 15, 1986.
  27. Web site: Karen Mistal 'Return of the Killer Tomatoes' 620 . Fanpop . October 24, 2021 . 620.
  28. News: Evans . Mary . Stock Photo - Michelle Pfeiffer & Al Pacino Characters: Frankie, Johnny Film: Frankie And Johnny . October 22, 2021 . Age Fotostock . Paramount . October 11, 1991.
  29. News: Evans . Mary . Stock Photo - Movie Poster Film: Frankie And Johnny (1991) Director: Garry Marshall . October 22, 2021 . Age Fotostock . Paramount . October 11, 1991.
  30. Web site: The Reebok shoes Freestyle Hi white in The Brains . Spotern . October 24, 2021.
  31. Web site: The Reebok white Hi lace up Kristin Wiig in The Brains . Spotern . October 25, 2021.
  32. News: Barbuto . Dana . Movie review: 'Masterminds' wastes its A-list comedic cast . October 25, 2021 . Recordnet.com . September 30, 2016.
  33. News: Amirpour . Ana Lily . How They Did It: Designing the Amputee Protagonist of Ana Lily Amirpour's Dystopian Desert Trip, The Bad Batch . October 22, 2021 . Alterian Inc. . June 20, 2017.
  34. Web site: Chick Fight . Box Office Buzz . October 22, 2021.
  35. News: Singh . Prerna . Where Was Chick Fight Filmed? . October 22, 2021 . The Cinemaholic . November 13, 2020.
  36. News: Groves . Martha . REEBOK SPRINTING TO THE LEAD: Field of Eager Competitors . October 21, 2021 . Los Angeles Times . August 3, 1986.
  37. News: Anitai . Tamar . PARLEZ VOUS YELLE POUR REEBOK FREESTYLE? . https://web.archive.org/web/20211021160332/http://www.mtv.com/news/2291776/parlez-vous-yelle-pour-reebok-freestyle/ . dead . October 21, 2021 . October 21, 2021 . MTV News . February 22, 2008.
  38. Web site: Sneaker Reebok hi freestyle of Yelle in the clip Completely crazy . Spotern . October 21, 2021.
  39. News: Rothenberg . Debra L. . Lil Mix And Emblem Perform On ABC's 'Good Morning America' . October 25, 2021 . Getty Images . June 7, 2013 . 170130280.
  40. Web site: Kiesza's Kicks: The Hideaway Singer's Top 10 Sneaker Looks. MTV UK. Jennifer Lynn. July 14, 2014. November 30, 2014.
  41. News: Divas dominate: Taylor Swift, Lorde, Iggy Azaela rock American Music Awards . October 23, 2021 . Firstpost . November 24, 2014.
  42. Web site: Iggy Azalea - Fancy_Beg For It (Medley) (2014 American Music Awards) ft. Charli XCX . Dailymotion . October 23, 2021.
  43. News: Clinton . Leah Melby . Last Night's American Music Awards Had a Major Clueless Style Moment. Did You Notice? . October 23, 2021 . Glamour . November 24, 2014.
  44. News: Sacasa . Alma . 6 Things You Need to Recreate Shakira's New Music Video Look . October 21, 2021 . People Espanol . December 10, 2020.
  45. News: Ogunnaike . Nikki . Introducing Alicia Keys x Reebok: Or As I Like To Call It 'The Perfect Collaboration Ever!' . October 21, 2021 . Glamour . September 5, 2012.
  46. News: Groves . Martha . REEBOK SPRINTING TO THE LEAD: Field of Eager Competitors . October 21, 2021 . Los Angeles Times . August 3, 1986.
  47. Cybill Shepherd. People. September 16, 1996. November 30, 2014.
  48. Web site: Galella . Ron . 43rd Annual Golden Globe Awards . Getty Images . October 24, 2021 . 74663954.
  49. Web site: Sayej . Nadja . Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture . Noisey by Vice . November 30, 2014.
  50. Web site: Keller . Joel . Eden Sher on The Middle's Christmas Episode and Why Sue Heck Is a Fashion Icon . Parade . December 11, 2013 . December 11, 2013.
  51. Web site: Sneakers Reebok Freestyle Hi in The Middle . Spotern.
  52. Web site: Tom . Ron . ABC's "The Goldbergs" - Season Five . Getty Images . Getty Images . November 18, 2022 . 900609016 . November 8, 2017.
  53. News: Braun . Don . Victoria Pedretti – 'The Haunting of Bly Manor' Promotional Material 2020 . October 22, 2021 . Celebmafia . August 25, 2020.
  54. Romano . Nick . The Haunting of Bly Manor teaser trailer spins a new ghost story — and October premiere . October 22, 2021 . Entertainment Weekly . August 31, 2020.
  55. Web site: King . Ben . La Brea Actress Veronica St. Clair Talks Season 2, Filming in Australia & More! . Bionic Buzz . NBC . November 18, 2022 . September 23, 2022.

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