History
Feiyue's roots can be traced to the 1920s when cloth shoes were manufactured in Shanghai.[11] In 1958, DaFu Rubber Company designed and produced a kind of civil shoe known as "Feiyue," a modification of the cloth shoes used by the Shaolin monks.[12] They gained popularity during the 1930s for their robustness, flexibility, and comfort, which were considered essential requirements for martial arts and various forms of athletics.[2] The shoes are a staple for almost all wushu practitioners and athletes in China, with the shoes being used by Shaolin monks and Kung Fu masters.
In 1963, using Feiyue and double arrow-labeled chevrons with "Feiyue track and field," the company became the best-selling shoe in China with an output of 1,616,000 pairs. By the 1980s, Feiyue sold about 4 million pairs yearly.[3] With the opening up of China and the associated cultural and economic shifts, the sneaker began to lose prominence in China, and by the end of the 1990s, the brand started selling in bulk due to low demand.[3] Once a highly regarded brand, by then, only elderly people and martial arts practitioners valued it as a cheap and durable brand.[3] In 2003, Shanghai Shenglong relaunched the production of shoes.[3]
In 2005, Patrice Bastian got together with a group of artists to change the brand name. In February 2006, they launched the first French-designed Feiyue Shoe collection.[2]
The DaFu Rubber Company reorganized and sold the rights to Feiyue to the "Shuang Qian Group Co. Ltd," in 2009. That company leased manufacturing back to DaFu and another manufacturer, "Top One" (大博文).
In 2014, BBC International, the Boca Raton, Florida-based footwear firm, acquired the French Feiyue shoe company.[2] Upon working with BBC, Feiyue's men's, women's, and children's collections were updated and globally introduced in Spring of 2015.
BBC has made a large new collection that builds on its existing brand. It uses high-quality materials like leather.[13]
In 2015, BBC International Launched a collaboration with Feiyue and Peanuts for a limited-edition collection. Before BBC's acquisition deal in August 2014, Feiyue had major success in collaborations, including collections with Celine, André, Casio, Bonton, NSBQ, and more; and continues with other collaborations beginning with Peanuts.[14]
The American Feiyue company collaborated in 2016 with the Solid & Striped clothing company, with textiles based on Solid & Striped designs.[15]
