Pierre André Senizergues on the solar paneled roof of Sole Technology. Photos courtesy Sole Technology and Etnies.
Etnies 30th Anniversary
It was 30-years ago that a French skateboarding champion moved to Southern California try his luck in the footwear business.
Pierre André Senizergues didn’t speak much English then. But he had some novel ideas on what sneakers were best for skateboarding. While brainstorming ideas, he skated for a new brand called Etnies. The name is play on the French pronunciation of the word Ethnic; skaters are a tribe – a different ethnicity, or so the people who came up with the name said. Senizergues later acquired Etnies and built Sole Technology, the brand’s Orange County-based parent company.
2016 is 30th anniversary of Etnies. A statement from Senizergues said Etnies was the first skateboarder owned sneaker brand. The brand remained in biz for three decades and counting because it protects feet and maintains high performance.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary, Etnies will produce a gallery show on the history of the brand. The show will make a tour of select U.S. cities this Spring. The brand also will offer the Marana Vulc MT, which was inspired by Etnies first pro-model sneaker. It was designed in 1987 and was inspired by Natas Kaupas, a legendary skateboarder. For updates on Etnies gallery show, check out Etnies' website.
