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Reebok Classic

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]

References

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