E > Etnies
Etnies was the first skateboard shoe brand owned by a professional skateboarder. The brand was originally designed for footwear created for skateboarders, but has since developed its range towards snowboarders, BMX and motocross riders, and surfers.
With its roots still strongly within the skateboarding market, Etnies has released a clothing line, a range of footwear for women, Etnies Girl, and a range for toddlers. Products include hoodies, t-shirts, shorts, trousers, hats, bags, and accessories.
Initially created in France in 1986, the brand was originally called Etnics taken from the word "ethnic". It was renamed Etnies after legal issues and in 1989, professional skateboarder, Pierre-Andre Senizergues, took over the brand.
Senizergues began riding and designing skate shoes and soon began to produce fashionable but durable, high quality footwear. A year later the footwear was distributed throughout the U.S, and since then the brand has evolved into a worldwide name sold across 70 countries.
