About company
French shoe company Rautureau Apple, who started etnies in 1986, was bought out by a European shoe conglomerate, which was, in turn, acquired by an American company. Pierre-André Senizergues, who had been designing and distributing etnies in the U.S. since 1990 under the name “etnies America”, lost the licensing rights to the etnies name after the acquisition. The brand's original name was Etnics, derived from the word "ethnic”. In 1989, Pierre André took charge of the company, making it the first skateboard shoe company owned by a professional skateboarder. Etnies is considered to be the most accessible of Sole Technology's brands. While its other brands, éS Footwear and Emerica, focus more narrowly on skateboarding shoes, etnies has a broader focus, designing shoes for toddlers, as well as "etnies Girl", a line for girls and women. In year 1987 was the release of first Etnies promodel shoes and it belongs to Natas Kaupas.
