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Reebok Classic
Product typeFootwear
OwnerReebok
CountryUnited States
Introduced1983; 41 years ago (1983)
MarketsWorldwide

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

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Franchise 5

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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

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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

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Two notable basketball players with Reebok Classics: (left) Shaquille O'Neal (with a pair of Shaq Attaq IV) and Allen Iverson (right, holding his Reebok Question signature shoe)

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.[24] 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

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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

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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

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