slap forums:
thread about local scene: 2 pages
concern about the inner workings of a footwear company: 344 pages
Emericas are the best tho
slap forums:
thread about local scene: 2 pages
concern about the inner workings of a footwear company: 344 pages
Yes, let’s continue to destroy skateboarding from the inside out. I bet Nike cons adidas and asics love this thread.
Expand QuoteYes, let’s continue to destroy skateboarding from the inside out. I bet Nike cons adidas and asics love this thread.[close]
It’s a brand started by skateboarders that support skateboarders. The other brands are brands started by non skateboarders that help support themselves off of skateboarding.
Explain how soletech helps skateboarding more than those other companies please
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteYes, let’s continue to destroy skateboarding from the inside out. I bet Nike cons adidas and asics love this thread.[close]
It’s a brand started by skateboarders that support skateboarders. The other brands are brands started by non skateboarders that help support themselves off of skateboarding.
Explain how soletech helps skateboarding more than those other companies please[close]
die, no. consolidate, yes.
I don't know how to feel about soletech yanno. I like them but I also wish they'd get their shit together or liquidate already.
To preface, I have no nostalgia for the brands like a lot of people because I'm 20. I dunno where to start with my shitty essay so here goes.
Soletech need to get a grip or die already. I don't want em to die but it's fucking annoying. They don't know who they're marketing to anymore, aside from eS who have cornered the "30 to 55 year olds with cash to blow on expensive reissues for the hell of it".
Nowadays they fucking leech off their history and the "skater owned" status. When was the last time Pierre Andre got on a skateboard or Don Brown did something other than damage the brand? Jerry Hsu put it perfectly in his recent interview (can't remember which mag), it's a marketing term. They have business ghouls running the show, the types that do the Angela Merkel thing with their hands and talk about "synergy" and "solutions" and other buzzwords from that adult swim For-Profit Online University sketch. Nike and Adidas have more skaters running the show in their skate division than Soletech. New Balance Numeric have more claim to being skater-owned than fucking Soletech.
And with "skater owned" there's this certain aire to it, an expectation that "skater owned" means they support skaters- support their riders and support their community. Soletech doesn't do shit! They haven't for years! Everything they do for the "skate community" literally exists exclusively in California and even then in like the suburbs of Orange County, unless it's Go Skate day where they'll drop like a garish lookin shoe. I've been to many events in my city recently- the Adidas bench demos outside shops and like jams at the DIY in the summer. You know who's fucking put money towards that? Adidas, Nike, New Balance. Fucking hell at the DIY jam, Nike gave out like limited edition dunks to be raffled off to support the DIY. I think Dunks and the people who wear them are fucking lame as hell but the way they support shops with that shit is like a net positive. I think it creates imbalance in cities with multiple shops, but generally I think it's alright. You can call it leeching but who's actually putting the money in to help fund and cultivate these events. I imagine soletech TMs try to look after the skaters, I know EmericaTM/SlapTM tried hard but was over-worked, spread too thin and just generally fucked around by higher powers. Upper management doesn't give a shit. I don't expect Nike/Adidas upper management to give a shit either but they don't have to think about it- maybe because they're so massive they can just have a section of the company in skateboarding.
Last Resort is a legit skater owned and operated brand with less money, manpower and infestructure as Soletech, Nike, Adidas, New Balance, DC, but people bought that shit up and still love the shoes. I thought they were kinda shit but they're dedicated to actually giving back to skateboarding.
Personally the shoes from soletech fit me perfectly, I've got size 12 stompers, they have a wide fit and are generally very comfortable and skate fantastically stock. My favourite models are the Kingpin, Marana, Joslin, Accel OG & Slim, Silo, Omen and Spanky. Never had a bad experience with them. However, those are probably the least fucked looking Soletech shoes you can find, and "least fucked" is pushing it with the Accel OG's inflated ass (they fit my big feet fine but they look goofy on smaller feet). The tech in soletech is legit, Joslin/Marana is a mega shoe. But it's just all fucked because of bad colourways and rapidly inflating prices.
If corporate monopolies like Nike, Adidas, VF CORP aren't your friends, why the fuck is soletech? They're money grubbing ghouls as well, that's what they're all after.
Said this in the Skecks of Etnies thread, but lemme run Soletech. Select 7 slap members to become the Soletech 7 and shut down like the fucking 5 companies under the brand all fighting for scraps of money, bring it all in, unionize every worker at every level of production, do shit for skating instead of leeching. Get it all going.
When was the last time Pierre Andre got on a skateboard
Not that I care about this at all really but just for the convo I think the difference between Nike blazer, dunk and vans era etc vs remaking the Muska is Nike and vans never stopped making that style of shoe. Sure some people currently don't like them but there's no gimmicks about those shoes they've just always existed because they work whereas the Muska, creager etc were just a tiny blip in skateboardings timeline and are only back to take advantage of sad people missing their youth or kids who don't know any better.Expand QuoteWhen was the last time Pierre Andre got on a skateboard[close]
Come on, he posts skating clips pretty regularly on IG. He still has impossibles at 60.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0-of5drpMf/?hl=fr
now of course my French ass is kinda biased with this, and I don't even like the way Etnies or es shoes look personnaly but I have so much respect for PAS. To come over from Europe and build a successful brand in the US in those days was such a big accomplishment. It's so different from being a born Californian who grew up with everything surf and skate-related on his doorstep, like 90 % of industry guys. Plus the one time I ran into him in Paris as a 14 year old, he was super nice.
anyways I'm honestly surprised and disappointed to see half of responders say Soletech should die.
What is the problem with re-issuing classic models? Nike is still selling Blazers and Dunks, Vans still selling eras and whatnot....Plus Aurélien and Joslin have pro models, so Soletech does give current pros their shine. And we just saw with Fabiana Delfino that Etnies has much more of a grip on things than Vans.
oh btw this is Pierre André in 1982. He's always been a real skate rat. Pro freestyler but could still ride a bowl. Of course he's fucking one of us.
(http://www.endlesslines.free.fr/ghost/ghostpages/imagespageghost/pas/air.jpg)
Unfortunately no "Fred Gall" option in the poll
never been a fan of most Etnies and Emerica models, but the Snake coming back is going to be sweet and I do actually like what Es is trying with their reissues.I was hyped for a bit, but it seems like they’re overdoing it. After the inevitable Koston 3, they’re going to run out of shoes to re-issue.
me and the rest of the groomsmen all wore maranas in my buddies wedding
Expand QuoteEmericas are the best tho[close]
Haven’t tried any emerics but eś are stable and nice
Any brand that gives Andy Anderson a signature model should die immediately.
If people want to buy ugly ass shoes, let them be. Just judge them silently.shoes are the most hate-able gear
Are Adidas corporate shill or okay dad? ASICS would have to be okay dadsshoes are the most hate-able gearExpand QuoteIf people want to buy ugly ass shoes, let them be. Just judge them silently.[close]
Nike? Corporate shill
NB#? Okay dad
Emerica? eS? Actual trash
Cons? Goofy-ass clown shoes
Last Resort? Don't make me laugh
Vans? Okay dad
Soletech has a foot in the grave but the amount of people simping for the corporate shoe brands is exhausting. Yall are just as bad as the "only skate core brands" people. Buy what you want, but don't feel some strange need to justify it.
"their tech is better" skateboarding is legit almost technology-resistant. Are yall out there skating powell flight decks or Almost "Uber Pop" back in the day? Hell no, you're skating whatever your favorite cool boi brand is. I mentioned this in another thread but, why did thin vulcs thrive in the heyday of hucking? Because tech barely matters in skateboarding. The products are primarily bought by teenagers who couldn't give a shit if they blew mom and dad's money (I know I didn't back in the day). It is all marketing an image.
People will talk up these better materials and tech and completely ignore the fact that everyone gives vans a free pass when they've been making the same low to mid-quality shoes for 40 years. Why? Because people like their marketing and non-skaters will think you're cool when you wear them.
When was the last time Pierre even skated? Someone posts a video of him doing an impossible at 60 lol. Can't make this shit up.
I don't care if it's soletech but a market with only those big brands is like four different flavors of vanilla. I got into skateboarding when I was young because I didn't like traditional sports and skateboard-only brands were appealing. Yeah Nike sponsors Max Palmer but Nyjah and P Rod are the ones with shoes.
Adi's are quickly turning into okay dad, but would personally place in the "wishes they were Nike" categoryAre Adidas corporate shill or okay dad? ASICS would have to be okay dadsExpand Quoteshoes are the most hate-able gearExpand QuoteIf people want to buy ugly ass shoes, let them be. Just judge them silently.[close]
Nike? Corporate shill
NB#? Okay dad
Emerica? eS? Actual trash
Cons? Goofy-ass clown shoes
Last Resort? Don't make me laugh
Vans? Okay dad[close]
Yeah, that's my point it's style over function. Why talk up tech shoes and performance when skateboarding is almost exclusively about what looks cool?Expand QuoteSoletech has a foot in the grave but the amount of people simping for the corporate shoe brands is exhausting. Yall are just as bad as the "only skate core brands" people. Buy what you want, but don't feel some strange need to justify it.
"their tech is better" skateboarding is legit almost technology-resistant. Are yall out there skating powell flight decks or Almost "Uber Pop" back in the day? Hell no, you're skating whatever your favorite cool boi brand is. I mentioned this in another thread but, why did thin vulcs thrive in the heyday of hucking? Because tech barely matters in skateboarding. The products are primarily bought by teenagers who couldn't give a shit if they blew mom and dad's money (I know I didn't back in the day). It is all marketing an image.
People will talk up these better materials and tech and completely ignore the fact that everyone gives vans a free pass when they've been making the same low to mid-quality shoes for 40 years. Why? Because people like their marketing and non-skaters will think you're cool when you wear them.
When was the last time Pierre even skated? Someone posts a video of him doing an impossible at 60 lol. Can't make this shit up.
I don't care if it's soletech but a market with only those big brands is like four different flavors of vanilla. I got into skateboarding when I was young because I didn't like traditional sports and skateboard-only brands were appealing. Yeah Nike sponsors Max Palmer but Nyjah and P Rod are the ones with shoes.[close]
Nah, the jeans got tighter and the puffy shoes didn’t look right with them. Also, and just my theory, those tech shoes lasted longer than vulcs… what shoe company wouldn’t want kids to buy shoes more often than not…
And as far as sole tech, their time in skateboarding is pretty much over. What everyone knew what was going to happen once Nike came in the game happened…
Last time Soletech was on top was when they were sponsoring the top skateboarders… Arto on Etnies… Koston, Prod, and Ladd on Es… Reynolds on Emerica…
Nike, Adidas, and NB sponsor everyone now and kids wanna buy the shoes their favorite skater wears. Soletech doesn’t have any mega popular skaters modeling their shit that’s their problem.
And, I'll forever be disappointed with SoleTech relying on distribution companies outside of the US. Their use of distribution companies is a shortcut and one that backfired immensely in the Russian market a decade ago when Gosha Konyshev went from repping his Emerica sponsorship to riding for a different shoe company that actually put effort into understand the local market and didn't have to worry about the politics between the local distribution companies.
They also try to act like they're DLX, but don't do any of the community support that DLX does. DLX not only makes a solid product, but they make a visible effort to support the local skate communities. SoleTech does neither.
I also don't feel like skateboarding shoe sales is even the main motivator behind these big companies coming into skateboarding. They're down to take a loss to have that "cool" rub off on their brand as long as skateboarding is in fashion.Expand QuoteExpand QuoteSoletech has a foot in the grave but the amount of people simping for the corporate shoe brands is exhausting. Yall are just as bad as the "only skate core brands" people. Buy what you want, but don't feel some strange need to justify it.
"their tech is better" skateboarding is legit almost technology-resistant. Are yall out there skating powell flight decks or Almost "Uber Pop" back in the day? Hell no, you're skating whatever your favorite cool boi brand is. I mentioned this in another thread but, why did thin vulcs thrive in the heyday of hucking? Because tech barely matters in skateboarding. The products are primarily bought by teenagers who couldn't give a shit if they blew mom and dad's money (I know I didn't back in the day). It is all marketing an image.
People will talk up these better materials and tech and completely ignore the fact that everyone gives vans a free pass when they've been making the same low to mid-quality shoes for 40 years. Why? Because people like their marketing and non-skaters will think you're cool when you wear them.
When was the last time Pierre even skated? Someone posts a video of him doing an impossible at 60 lol. Can't make this shit up.
I don't care if it's soletech but a market with only those big brands is like four different flavors of vanilla. I got into skateboarding when I was young because I didn't like traditional sports and skateboard-only brands were appealing. Yeah Nike sponsors Max Palmer but Nyjah and P Rod are the ones with shoes.[close]
Nah, the jeans got tighter and the puffy shoes didn’t look right with them. Also, and just my theory, those tech shoes lasted longer than vulcs… what shoe company wouldn’t want kids to buy shoes more often than not…
And as far as sole tech, their time in skateboarding is pretty much over. What everyone knew what was going to happen once Nike came in the game happened…
Last time Soletech was on top was when they were sponsoring the top skateboarders… Arto on Etnies… Koston, Prod, and Ladd on Es… Reynolds on Emerica…
Nike, Adidas, and NB sponsor everyone now and kids wanna buy the shoes their favorite skater wears. Soletech doesn’t have any mega popular skaters modeling their shit that’s their problem.[close]
When was the last time Pierre even skated? Someone posts a video of him doing an impossible at 60 lol. Can't make this shit up.
I love the design and feel of many eS shoes.
But what's up with the blatant outspoken transphobia I've seen on social media from some of the folks working behind the scenes at Sole Tech? In 2024? How old are these guys? And how come this isn't being addressed?
Expand QuoteI love the design and feel of many eS shoes.
But what's up with the blatant outspoken transphobia I've seen on social media from some of the folks working behind the scenes at Sole Tech? In 2024? How old are these guys? And how come this isn't being addressed?[close]
I’ve never heard about any of that but please post any links or screenshots. Put that shit on blast and I’ll pass it on
That's not entirely true. They are direct in several countries outside of the US.
Also, overheads for footwear are so much more expensive than hard goods. And then there is staff. And a place to work from.
If you are a small company, an office, employed staff and all the expenses which come with that just are so financially unviable. A distributor would be the only way to go.
Also, also...Russia. Even if a brand was direct - there are embargos in place. Or were. I believe they still are.
Ain't no one riding for a brand direct or otherwise when you simply cannot ship there with the current war going on.
...and DLX is entirely distributor model outside of North America.
I don't know how to feel about soletech yanno. I like them but I also wish they'd get their shit together or liquidate already.A lot of good stuff in here. The thing is that there's just too many flaws at Sole Tech. For starters, you've got the older guys who are just out of touch. They're not in the van or hitting the streets with the youth anymore so they're out of touch versus guys like Dill/Reynolds, etc who are around the kids and seeing what's relevant and trending. Also, a lot of success from businesses comes from them paying the correct people to run the business and/or departments. When you've got an owner putting their input and worrying about day to day operations when they should be using their time to take on much more important tasks. Most of these brands peaked and blossomed when the control and power were given to the employees who were hired to do so.
To preface, I have no nostalgia for the brands like a lot of people because I'm 20. I dunno where to start with my shitty essay so here goes.
Soletech need to get a grip or die already. I don't want em to die but it's fucking annoying. They don't know who they're marketing to anymore, aside from eS who have cornered the "30 to 55 year olds with cash to blow on expensive reissues for the hell of it".
Nowadays they fucking leech off their history and the "skater owned" status. When was the last time Pierre Andre got on a skateboard or Don Brown did something other than damage the brand? Jerry Hsu put it perfectly in his recent interview (can't remember which mag), it's a marketing term. They have business ghouls running the show, the types that do the Angela Merkel thing with their hands and talk about "synergy" and "solutions" and other buzzwords from that adult swim For-Profit Online University sketch. Nike and Adidas have more skaters running the show in their skate division than Soletech. New Balance Numeric have more claim to being skater-owned than fucking Soletech.
And with "skater owned" there's this certain aire to it, an expectation that "skater owned" means they support skaters- support their riders and support their community. Soletech doesn't do shit! They haven't for years! Everything they do for the "skate community" literally exists exclusively in California and even then in like the suburbs of Orange County, unless it's Go Skate day where they'll drop like a garish lookin shoe. I've been to many events in my city recently- the Adidas bench demos outside shops and like jams at the DIY in the summer. You know who's fucking put money towards that? Adidas, Nike, New Balance. Fucking hell at the DIY jam, Nike gave out like limited edition dunks to be raffled off to support the DIY. I think Dunks and the people who wear them are fucking lame as hell but the way they support shops with that shit is like a net positive. I think it creates imbalance in cities with multiple shops, but generally I think it's alright. You can call it leeching but who's actually putting the money in to help fund and cultivate these events. I imagine soletech TMs try to look after the skaters, I know EmericaTM/SlapTM tried hard but was over-worked, spread too thin and just generally fucked around by higher powers. Upper management doesn't give a shit. I don't expect Nike/Adidas upper management to give a shit either but they don't have to think about it- maybe because they're so massive they can just have a section of the company in skateboarding.
Last Resort is a legit skater owned and operated brand with less money, manpower and infestructure as Soletech, Nike, Adidas, New Balance, DC, but people bought that shit up and still love the shoes. I thought they were kinda shit but they're dedicated to actually giving back to skateboarding.
Personally the shoes from soletech fit me perfectly, I've got size 12 stompers, they have a wide fit and are generally very comfortable and skate fantastically stock. My favourite models are the Kingpin, Marana, Joslin, Accel OG & Slim, Silo, Omen and Spanky. Never had a bad experience with them. However, those are probably the least fucked looking Soletech shoes you can find, and "least fucked" is pushing it with the Accel OG's inflated ass (they fit my big feet fine but they look goofy on smaller feet). The tech in soletech is legit, Joslin/Marana is a mega shoe. But it's just all fucked because of bad colourways and rapidly inflating prices.
If corporate monopolies like Nike, Adidas, VF CORP aren't your friends, why the fuck is soletech? They're money grubbing ghouls as well, that's what they're all after.
Said this in the Skecks of Etnies thread, but lemme run Soletech. Select 7 slap members to become the Soletech 7 and shut down like the fucking 5 companies under the brand all fighting for scraps of money, bring it all in, unionize every worker at every level of production, do shit for skating instead of leeching. Get it all going.
Im not gonna do what everyone thinks im gonna do, and flip out, man.
don brown's usually in the comments section of every transphobic meme you can find on IG, bet you a nollie tre flip over a hydrant he follows piss skate or some other right wing skater meme pageExpand QuoteExpand QuoteI love the design and feel of many eS shoes.
But what's up with the blatant outspoken transphobia I've seen on social media from some of the folks working behind the scenes at Sole Tech? In 2024? How old are these guys? And how come this isn't being addressed?[close]
I’ve never heard about any of that but please post any links or screenshots. Put that shit on blast and I’ll pass it on[close]
For instance, as I understand it, this Leighton Dyer fellow is some kind of NZ-based "Global Art Director" at Sole Tech (and one of the co-founders of Muckmouth).
(https://i.ibb.co/L6dzB9B/Leighton-Dyer-Being-AKook.jpg) (https://ibb.co/L6dzB9B)
don brown's usually in the comments section of every transphobic meme you can find on IG, bet you a nollie tre flip over a hydrant he follows piss skate or some other right wing skater meme pageExpand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteI love the design and feel of many eS shoes.
But what's up with the blatant outspoken transphobia I've seen on social media from some of the folks working behind the scenes at Sole Tech? In 2024? How old are these guys? And how come this isn't being addressed?[close]
I’ve never heard about any of that but please post any links or screenshots. Put that shit on blast and I’ll pass it on[close]
For instance, as I understand it, this Leighton Dyer fellow is some kind of NZ-based "Global Art Director" at Sole Tech (and one of the co-founders of Muckmouth).
(https://i.ibb.co/L6dzB9B/Leighton-Dyer-Being-AKook.jpg) (https://ibb.co/L6dzB9B)[close]
Expand QuoteThat's not entirely true. They are direct in several countries outside of the US.
Also, overheads for footwear are so much more expensive than hard goods. And then there is staff. And a place to work from.
If you are a small company, an office, employed staff and all the expenses which come with that just are so financially unviable. A distributor would be the only way to go.
Also, also...Russia. Even if a brand was direct - there are embargos in place. Or were. I believe they still are.
Ain't no one riding for a brand direct or otherwise when you simply cannot ship there with the current war going on.[close]
1. Embargo. Yes, this is why I mentioned a decade ago. Not present day.
2. Overhead higher, ok, profit is immensely higher as well. This is not a valid excuse for SoleTech.
3. Sole Tech is a small company. No. I'm not buying this with SoleTech. They were one of the biggest companies in skateboarding and, like DC had money to use to improve/manage their international distribution model. DC, Nike, Vans, etc. all sold directly to the Russian market. Sole Tech could have easily hired a local to manage distribution.
The only out I will give them was with the intense corruption of the Russian market/need for bribes, it might have been too much for them to handle. But this isn't an excuse for all other international markets.
And, what countries does SoleTech manage their distribution to? I'm 90% sure that they don't even manage their Canadian distribution, unless they got to the point where their sales are so low the distribution dropped them.
Your argument that the local distribution model is cheaper only furthers my point that SoleTech's cheapness, laziness, and short-sighted vision plays a role in their downfall.Expand Quote...and DLX is entirely distributor model outside of North America.[close]
This does not change the fact that SoleTech's support for the American skate scenes is much weaker than DLX. The point is very much, DLX with immensely lower profit margins makes a far more visible impact on the local skate scenes in America.
Sole Tech tried to float on the hollow image of "skater owned," without the skater owned company attribute that encourages them to place the scene above profit in some cases. Something, Sole Tech wasn't doing nearly as often as they needed to be: https://www.skateboarding.com/news/skateboarding-though-corporate-america-we-are-inefficient-and-proud
Expand QuoteIm not gonna do what everyone thinks im gonna do, and flip out, man.[close]
Flipping in looks better 95.72% of the time anyway
I don't think you understand costs of business.
I got offered a role at Converse in Europe about ten years ago. Turnover was next-level. And whilst going through their business, we discussed territories and even they operated through agencies rather than direct in every territory. In fact, IIRC there were very few direct territories. UK, France, Benelux and a couple of others. The majority was agencies.
...and granted, an agency is a step above a distributor but the point is that even a brand you'd deem as large as Converse operated in this same manner.
On DLX - during that time period you are harking back to (2004 to 2014), their support of non-American skater scenes was generally pish. They flowed a few people...thats it.
Pfanner was the first European to have a pro board on a DLX brand, I think. AH followed with some more.
2021...Harry Lintell - first European pro on Real ever.
2023...was Tom Knox the first Euro pro on Krooked? I feel like I am missing someone there.
DLX are the fucking shit. Love 'em and they have been kind enough to support me with product here and there, too - and they definitely have done and continue to do great things...but no one has a clean history. No one.You can throw size or profit margins or whatever else you like at it. But that isn't the whole story. The simplification you are working on isn't how the real world works.
What is with the link to a 20 year old article at the end there? A lot has changed since then. I don't understand the relevancy.
Expand Quote
I don't think you understand costs of business.
I got offered a role at Converse in Europe about ten years ago. Turnover was next-level. And whilst going through their business, we discussed territories and even they operated through agencies rather than direct in every territory. In fact, IIRC there were very few direct territories. UK, France, Benelux and a couple of others. The majority was agencies.
...and granted, an agency is a step above a distributor but the point is that even a brand you'd deem as large as Converse operated in this same manner.
On DLX - during that time period you are harking back to (2004 to 2014), their support of non-American skater scenes was generally pish. They flowed a few people...thats it.
Pfanner was the first European to have a pro board on a DLX brand, I think. AH followed with some more.
2021...Harry Lintell - first European pro on Real ever.
2023...was Tom Knox the first Euro pro on Krooked? I feel like I am missing someone there.
DLX are the fucking shit. Love 'em and they have been kind enough to support me with product here and there, too - and they definitely have done and continue to do great things...but no one has a clean history. No one.You can throw size or profit margins or whatever else you like at it. But that isn't the whole story. The simplification you are working on isn't how the real world works.
What is with the link to a 20 year old article at the end there? A lot has changed since then. I don't understand the relevancy.[close]
I love the ad hominen.
Me: "DC, Vans, Nike, and so on directly interacted with the Russian market [by-passing the distributors and all the problems associated with distribution companies"
You Response A: "You don't understand cost of business (despite seeing others do their jobs correctly and you pretending the distribution company doesn't cost money to run and increase costs for the consumer).
I love the Converse example too:
Me: Me: "DC, Vans, Nike, and so on directly interacted with the Russian market [by-passing the distributors and all the problems associated with distribution companies"
You: Converse doesn't directly interact with all markets, but they did interact with some markets directly.
Ok, this doesn't undo my point either. You're saying they still interacted directly with some markets. I imagine when making this decision to be lazy or to directly do so it is based on population, avg income of the potential customers, cultural prominence (i.e. the Russian market is not only its own cultural world, but prior to the war, strongly influenced other Russian speaking countries culture and trends), and a host of other variables.
My example of SoleTech ignoring Russia a country with 140 million people that had cultural influence over many of its neighbors is not Estonia with a population of less than 1.5 million or what tiny Euro nation we want to reference. The Russian skate scene was pretty amazing 2012 and SoleTech had no idea what was going on and no understanding of the entire Eastern European/Eur-Asian region.
Me: DLX has visible support of the American local scenes.
You: DLX in Europe.
Ok.
SoleTech failed on multiple fronts. They failed internationally and they failed their American consumers as well. It was a company that was "skater owned" but didn't operate as a skater owned company should. They lived on their legacy, they didn't interact with their American customers, they didn't understand their American customers, and they did the same thing abroad, despite being one of the wealthiest skate companies of the early 2000s. They had every opportunity to do more, but they didn't.
They sold price point trash, they had their own infighting within the company, they didn't support local scenes in America the way DLX does, and they didn't support international scenes the way Nike, Vans, and DC did.
Sole Tech faced problems when Nike started eating their lunch, but Nike was only able to each their lunch cause they weren't even paying attention.
Finally, I'm sorry you don't understand the relevancy of the characteristics of a skater owned company and what the scene expects them to do. These are broad and general characteristics and expectations within the culture, not something that goes out of fashion. Do you think there is no meaning in anything written before 2020? Should we throw away all social science and history because it is too old? All the insights on consumer behaviors or social-pychology developed in 1920, 1950, 1980, and 2000 should be thrown away?
Everyday is DarkPools discusses Soletech day!
I get that, but this is the way the industry works. Companies fuck up, people complain, products get sold or don't. It's not some personal thing. No need to an emotional stake in companies.Expand QuoteEveryday is DarkPools discusses Soletech day![close]
So be it, if there are threads on here discussing it and I feel compelled to post.
Perhaps I do talk too much about it, but whatever I'm unapologetic with who/what I love/enjoy in this life
Unfortunately no "Fred Gall" option in the poll
Maybe soletech needs a sugar daddy.
Or find kore buyers for each brand. Sell 'es to The Muska. Sell Emerica to Ellington. Sell etnies to Shecks.
Turn it into a co-op and sell exclusively at farmers markets.
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG you’re back!A lot of good stuff in here. The thing is that there's just too many flaws at Sole Tech. For starters, you've got the older guys who are just out of touch. They're not in the van or hitting the streets with the youth anymore so they're out of touch versus guys like Dill/Reynolds, etc who are around the kids and seeing what's relevant and trending. Also, a lot of success from businesses comes from them paying the correct people to run the business and/or departments. When you've got an owner putting their input and worrying about day to day operations when they should be using their time to take on much more important tasks. Most of these brands peaked and blossomed when the control and power were given to the employees who were hired to do so.Expand QuoteI don't know how to feel about soletech yanno. I like them but I also wish they'd get their shit together or liquidate already.
To preface, I have no nostalgia for the brands like a lot of people because I'm 20. I dunno where to start with my shitty essay so here goes.
Soletech need to get a grip or die already. I don't want em to die but it's fucking annoying. They don't know who they're marketing to anymore, aside from eS who have cornered the "30 to 55 year olds with cash to blow on expensive reissues for the hell of it".
Nowadays they fucking leech off their history and the "skater owned" status. When was the last time Pierre Andre got on a skateboard or Don Brown did something other than damage the brand? Jerry Hsu put it perfectly in his recent interview (can't remember which mag), it's a marketing term. They have business ghouls running the show, the types that do the Angela Merkel thing with their hands and talk about "synergy" and "solutions" and other buzzwords from that adult swim For-Profit Online University sketch. Nike and Adidas have more skaters running the show in their skate division than Soletech. New Balance Numeric have more claim to being skater-owned than fucking Soletech.
And with "skater owned" there's this certain aire to it, an expectation that "skater owned" means they support skaters- support their riders and support their community. Soletech doesn't do shit! They haven't for years! Everything they do for the "skate community" literally exists exclusively in California and even then in like the suburbs of Orange County, unless it's Go Skate day where they'll drop like a garish lookin shoe. I've been to many events in my city recently- the Adidas bench demos outside shops and like jams at the DIY in the summer. You know who's fucking put money towards that? Adidas, Nike, New Balance. Fucking hell at the DIY jam, Nike gave out like limited edition dunks to be raffled off to support the DIY. I think Dunks and the people who wear them are fucking lame as hell but the way they support shops with that shit is like a net positive. I think it creates imbalance in cities with multiple shops, but generally I think it's alright. You can call it leeching but who's actually putting the money in to help fund and cultivate these events. I imagine soletech TMs try to look after the skaters, I know EmericaTM/SlapTM tried hard but was over-worked, spread too thin and just generally fucked around by higher powers. Upper management doesn't give a shit. I don't expect Nike/Adidas upper management to give a shit either but they don't have to think about it- maybe because they're so massive they can just have a section of the company in skateboarding.
Last Resort is a legit skater owned and operated brand with less money, manpower and infestructure as Soletech, Nike, Adidas, New Balance, DC, but people bought that shit up and still love the shoes. I thought they were kinda shit but they're dedicated to actually giving back to skateboarding.
Personally the shoes from soletech fit me perfectly, I've got size 12 stompers, they have a wide fit and are generally very comfortable and skate fantastically stock. My favourite models are the Kingpin, Marana, Joslin, Accel OG & Slim, Silo, Omen and Spanky. Never had a bad experience with them. However, those are probably the least fucked looking Soletech shoes you can find, and "least fucked" is pushing it with the Accel OG's inflated ass (they fit my big feet fine but they look goofy on smaller feet). The tech in soletech is legit, Joslin/Marana is a mega shoe. But it's just all fucked because of bad colourways and rapidly inflating prices.
If corporate monopolies like Nike, Adidas, VF CORP aren't your friends, why the fuck is soletech? They're money grubbing ghouls as well, that's what they're all after.
Said this in the Skecks of Etnies thread, but lemme run Soletech. Select 7 slap members to become the Soletech 7 and shut down like the fucking 5 companies under the brand all fighting for scraps of money, bring it all in, unionize every worker at every level of production, do shit for skating instead of leeching. Get it all going.[close]
From my personal experience throughout the years I’ve witness many brands lacking the will to change. During my days at Sole Tech, for years I tried to make changes and be creative with new ways of operations. The thing is with an older crowd, they're not too interested on trying to taking different or new approaches especially when it comes from someone almost half their age. What may have worked 20 years doesn't mean it will work today and adaptation is crucial to any brands survival. I can't even tell you how many times I tried to get everybody to sit down and have some hard but realistic in-depth conversations on what's working, what isn't and basically start from scratch with a new workflow. Five years there and no conversation was had. Same thing post-COVID when the signs of another recession was coming, I reached out numerous times to put a plan together to and discuss how to enter a recession as a business and no one wanted to talk about it. Even at the end, I was digging into the sales numbers and spent my holiday visiting family but in reality worked and spent the entire time putting together a plan to improve business on the sales side and then requested to meet to go over said plan to create a strategy and no response. Truth be told every time I would ask questions regarding any sort of sales data (just to find out what's working and what isn't when I'm being asked to come up with new strategies) sales employees would get extremely defensive and not want to answer any sort of questions or give numbers or want to discuss even when coming from a place to help versus a finger pointing situation. There were times we’d get sales results/data and rather than getting everyone to figure out how to improve, it was basically "okay see ya next season". Truth is that nobody wants to be held accountable to do the work. I've even told everybody myself that the brands and products are not trendy or "cool" and the second we admit that to ourselves and use that knowledge that to then create a strategy to make the brands more on trend. Unfortunately, when everyone refuses to realize that and continue to think they've created the best product in the world almost to the point where it seems the consumers are lucky to be able to buy their product, you're sort of already blowing it.
Lastly, the lack of strategy is probably these type of brand's weakest link. From heavily discounting shoes on their website to even on the marketing side, they have always chosen to cut corners. Sure, when these brands were all doing 8 figures annually a few decades ago, just a few percent being allocated to marketing was still in the million + dollar range. Fast forward 20 years and a few percent now means basically nothing for the entire marketing from team riders, tours, advertising, video projects, filmers/photographers, etc. No brand can survive this day and age with such little support for marketing when in skating, your marketing is just about everything. Of course designs and product play a heavy factor too but marketing is everything. Maybe too personal but I've always been very straight up and transparent with everyone on this board and I got tired of having to cut things every year and letting friends go. I was over it and I realized when you just keep cutting and cutting, you're just digging yourself into a much deeper hole that's going to be a lot harder to get out of. Anyways, we weren't given enough budget to even have a fighting chance so yeah for the last several years I offered to invest my own money into the brand to give us a chance to do the things a brand needs to do to not only stay afloat but also have a decent change on growing the brand. Year after year, budget after budget, I couldn't even get a simple response back (this goes back to the whole not wanting to change or adapt). Not saying anyone had to sell me some of the company (although it would be cool to be able to let employees eventually get some sort of equity and keep it in the hands of skateboarders), it could have been a loan for all I care as money doesn't mean much to me when I'm doing what I thoroughly love. I fully respect someone not wanting to open that door but to tell me we don't have the money for this and that and I am the only one trying to come up with other solutions even by putting my own money down, it just seems like these guys have too much of an ego to accept any help which at the end of the day is totally fine but if someone doesn't want to be helped then unfortunately there's not much you can do about it. Secondly, these brands have treated the ones who gave everything they had into it such as team managers, filmers, riders and just were never truly appreciated in my opinion. Even in my own personal experience, it's not entirely our fault the brands have lost millions year after year when the issues trickle down from the top and change is so negatively perceived. It doesn't matter who is in the TM or Brand Manager or shoe designer role if there's problems coming from above. That's why there has been so much employee turnaround the last 10 years and we all know the owner/executives aren't going to fire themselves so they use anyone else below as the scapegoat to save themselves and then repeat as things don't improve. So to the OP, I don't want any skater owned brand closing it's doors but if they do, it's because of their own poor decisions and actions that lead them there.
Expand QuoteUnfortunately no "Fred Gall" option in the poll[close]
And nah I don't wanna see them go away, they just need to shift their focus
Stop relying on 90's nostalgia with eS, drop the green filter rail chomping stoner rock shtick with Emerica, and as for Etnies just listen to Ben De Gros
That’s rough to put your heart and soul(tech) into something and the bosses don’t listen at all. I worked for someone who was an old guard type and didn’t listen to shit. He just did whatever his old ways told him and didn’t listen to any ideas except his own.A lot of good stuff in here. The thing is that there's just too many flaws at Sole Tech. For starters, you've got the older guys who are just out of touch. They're not in the van or hitting the streets with the youth anymore so they're out of touch versus guys like Dill/Reynolds, etc who are around the kids and seeing what's relevant and trending. Also, a lot of success from businesses comes from them paying the correct people to run the business and/or departments. When you've got an owner putting their input and worrying about day to day operations when they should be using their time to take on much more important tasks. Most of these brands peaked and blossomed when the control and power were given to the employees who were hired to do so.Expand QuoteI don't know how to feel about soletech yanno. I like them but I also wish they'd get their shit together or liquidate already.
To preface, I have no nostalgia for the brands like a lot of people because I'm 20. I dunno where to start with my shitty essay so here goes.
Soletech need to get a grip or die already. I don't want em to die but it's fucking annoying. They don't know who they're marketing to anymore, aside from eS who have cornered the "30 to 55 year olds with cash to blow on expensive reissues for the hell of it".
Nowadays they fucking leech off their history and the "skater owned" status. When was the last time Pierre Andre got on a skateboard or Don Brown did something other than damage the brand? Jerry Hsu put it perfectly in his recent interview (can't remember which mag), it's a marketing term. They have business ghouls running the show, the types that do the Angela Merkel thing with their hands and talk about "synergy" and "solutions" and other buzzwords from that adult swim For-Profit Online University sketch. Nike and Adidas have more skaters running the show in their skate division than Soletech. New Balance Numeric have more claim to being skater-owned than fucking Soletech.
And with "skater owned" there's this certain aire to it, an expectation that "skater owned" means they support skaters- support their riders and support their community. Soletech doesn't do shit! They haven't for years! Everything they do for the "skate community" literally exists exclusively in California and even then in like the suburbs of Orange County, unless it's Go Skate day where they'll drop like a garish lookin shoe. I've been to many events in my city recently- the Adidas bench demos outside shops and like jams at the DIY in the summer. You know who's fucking put money towards that? Adidas, Nike, New Balance. Fucking hell at the DIY jam, Nike gave out like limited edition dunks to be raffled off to support the DIY. I think Dunks and the people who wear them are fucking lame as hell but the way they support shops with that shit is like a net positive. I think it creates imbalance in cities with multiple shops, but generally I think it's alright. You can call it leeching but who's actually putting the money in to help fund and cultivate these events. I imagine soletech TMs try to look after the skaters, I know EmericaTM/SlapTM tried hard but was over-worked, spread too thin and just generally fucked around by higher powers. Upper management doesn't give a shit. I don't expect Nike/Adidas upper management to give a shit either but they don't have to think about it- maybe because they're so massive they can just have a section of the company in skateboarding.
Last Resort is a legit skater owned and operated brand with less money, manpower and infestructure as Soletech, Nike, Adidas, New Balance, DC, but people bought that shit up and still love the shoes. I thought they were kinda shit but they're dedicated to actually giving back to skateboarding.
Personally the shoes from soletech fit me perfectly, I've got size 12 stompers, they have a wide fit and are generally very comfortable and skate fantastically stock. My favourite models are the Kingpin, Marana, Joslin, Accel OG & Slim, Silo, Omen and Spanky. Never had a bad experience with them. However, those are probably the least fucked looking Soletech shoes you can find, and "least fucked" is pushing it with the Accel OG's inflated ass (they fit my big feet fine but they look goofy on smaller feet). The tech in soletech is legit, Joslin/Marana is a mega shoe. But it's just all fucked because of bad colourways and rapidly inflating prices.
If corporate monopolies like Nike, Adidas, VF CORP aren't your friends, why the fuck is soletech? They're money grubbing ghouls as well, that's what they're all after.
Said this in the Skecks of Etnies thread, but lemme run Soletech. Select 7 slap members to become the Soletech 7 and shut down like the fucking 5 companies under the brand all fighting for scraps of money, bring it all in, unionize every worker at every level of production, do shit for skating instead of leeching. Get it all going.[close]
From my personal experience throughout the years I’ve witness many brands lacking the will to change. During my days at Sole Tech, for years I tried to make changes and be creative with new ways of operations. The thing is with an older crowd, they're not too interested on trying to taking different or new approaches especially when it comes from someone almost half their age. What may have worked 20 years doesn't mean it will work today and adaptation is crucial to any brands survival. I can't even tell you how many times I tried to get everybody to sit down and have some hard but realistic in-depth conversations on what's working, what isn't and basically start from scratch with a new workflow. Five years there and no conversation was had. Same thing post-COVID when the signs of another recession was coming, I reached out numerous times to put a plan together to and discuss how to enter a recession as a business and no one wanted to talk about it. Even at the end, I was digging into the sales numbers and spent my holiday visiting family but in reality worked and spent the entire time putting together a plan to improve business on the sales side and then requested to meet to go over said plan to create a strategy and no response. Truth be told every time I would ask questions regarding any sort of sales data (just to find out what's working and what isn't when I'm being asked to come up with new strategies) sales employees would get extremely defensive and not want to answer any sort of questions or give numbers or want to discuss even when coming from a place to help versus a finger pointing situation. There were times we’d get sales results/data and rather than getting everyone to figure out how to improve, it was basically "okay see ya next season". Truth is that nobody wants to be held accountable to do the work. I've even told everybody myself that the brands and products are not trendy or "cool" and the second we admit that to ourselves and use that knowledge that to then create a strategy to make the brands more on trend. Unfortunately, when everyone refuses to realize that and continue to think they've created the best product in the world almost to the point where it seems the consumers are lucky to be able to buy their product, you're sort of already blowing it.
Lastly, the lack of strategy is probably these type of brand's weakest link. From heavily discounting shoes on their website to even on the marketing side, they have always chosen to cut corners. Sure, when these brands were all doing 8 figures annually a few decades ago, just a few percent being allocated to marketing was still in the million + dollar range. Fast forward 20 years and a few percent now means basically nothing for the entire marketing from team riders, tours, advertising, video projects, filmers/photographers, etc. No brand can survive this day and age with such little support for marketing when in skating, your marketing is just about everything. Of course designs and product play a heavy factor too but marketing is everything. Maybe too personal but I've always been very straight up and transparent with everyone on this board and I got tired of having to cut things every year and letting friends go. I was over it and I realized when you just keep cutting and cutting, you're just digging yourself into a much deeper hole that's going to be a lot harder to get out of. Anyways, we weren't given enough budget to even have a fighting chance so yeah for the last several years I offered to invest my own money into the brand to give us a chance to do the things a brand needs to do to not only stay afloat but also have a decent change on growing the brand. Year after year, budget after budget, I couldn't even get a simple response back (this goes back to the whole not wanting to change or adapt). Not saying anyone had to sell me some of the company (although it would be cool to be able to let employees eventually get some sort of equity and keep it in the hands of skateboarders), it could have been a loan for all I care as money doesn't mean much to me when I'm doing what I thoroughly love. I fully respect someone not wanting to open that door but to tell me we don't have the money for this and that and I am the only one trying to come up with other solutions even by putting my own money down, it just seems like these guys have too much of an ego to accept any help which at the end of the day is totally fine but if someone doesn't want to be helped then unfortunately there's not much you can do about it. Secondly, these brands have treated the ones who gave everything they had into it such as team managers, filmers, riders and just were never truly appreciated in my opinion. Even in my own personal experience, it's not entirely our fault the brands have lost millions year after year when the issues trickle down from the top and change is so negatively perceived. It doesn't matter who is in the TM or Brand Manager or shoe designer role if there's problems coming from above. That's why there has been so much employee turnaround the last 10 years and we all know the owner/executives aren't going to fire themselves so they use anyone else below as the scapegoat to save themselves and then repeat as things don't improve. So to the OP, I don't want any skater owned brand closing it's doors but if they do, it's because of their own poor decisions and actions that lead them there.
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteI love the design and feel of many eS shoes.
But what's up with the blatant outspoken transphobia I've seen on social media from some of the folks working behind the scenes at Sole Tech? In 2024? How old are these guys? And how come this isn't being addressed?[close]
I’ve never heard about any of that but please post any links or screenshots. Put that shit on blast and I’ll pass it on[close]
For instance, as I understand it, this Leighton Dyer fellow is some kind of NZ-based "Global Art Director" at Sole Tech (and one of the co-founders of Muckmouth).
(https://i.ibb.co/L6dzB9B/Leighton-Dyer-Being-AKook.jpg) (https://ibb.co/L6dzB9B)
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteUnfortunately no "Fred Gall" option in the poll[close]
And nah I don't wanna see them go away, they just need to shift their focus
Stop relying on 90's nostalgia with eS, drop the green filter rail chomping stoner rock shtick with Emerica, and as for Etnies just listen to Ben De Gros[close]
What should they do? make basketball shoes and soccer shoes? Nikes most sucessful shoe in skating (janoski) resembles an emerica/vans more than anything.
all of soletech is basically staying in their lane and doing the shit they are supposed to be doing. Surely people have been asking for the muskas reissue since fulfill the dream. eS is supposed to stop making accels because..... they remind you of the 90s....
What about nike dunks or blazers or cortez? what about vans eras and old skools?
what about any adidas (they literally are all the exact same shoe every time)
i dont see how emerica making wino slips and eS making accels is any different. If anything, nike making a janoski was them trying to find a way to make a product that extremely jaded and picky skatrers would like so they mocked it off vans/emericas.....
Again, dont understand why everyone wants to dislike soletech for just making skate shoes for skaters. but Nike has been making dunks since 1985 and just adding a colorway every now and again and everyone comps outside of Black Sheep or No Comply for a day to get them... They are literally basketball shoes......
Its weird and i just dont get it...
Not supporting Sole Tech, but am fully backing us finding a way to make sure Muska can keep feeding gophersExpand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteYes, let’s continue to destroy skateboarding from the inside out. I bet Nike cons adidas and asics love this thread.[close]
It’s a brand started by skateboarders that support skateboarders. The other brands are brands started by non skateboarders that help support themselves off of skateboarding.
Explain how soletech helps skateboarding more than those other companies please[close][close]
That seems more of a “this is how I feel” rather than “here are my reasons why soletech supports and contributes to skateboarding over these other companies” type of reply.
I’d argue that soletech is leeching off of their own legacy and contributing nothing besides overpriced replicas of their hits from the past aimed at the wallets of a generation that doesn’t seek advancement in technology. Soletech has been stagnant for years at this point. Why give TJ or Wade a pro model when you can charge $150 for some late 90’s brick that will help muska buy more gopher food?
All of the nasty evil corperations you listed have actual skaters working for them designing shoes, working with current pros and advancing technology to make better performing (and looking imo) skate shoes. They pay and incentivize their riders as well. Idk why people hang onto the past so hard and refuse to realize that soletech and their Core Image counterparts aren’t these altruistic, “bleeding for the cause because they love it” companies. They exist to profit off of skateboarding and imo make it even worse by keeping up the facade that they’re “one of us”
I’m willing to let soletech die just so I won’t have to read these manifestos on here. Get a grip, sheeshGives me something to read with my morning coffee
Comparing DLX to Soletech was off because as I demonstrated; both brands have holes in their history.
etnies used to run those EuroCup contests but you overlook that. Those contests were my first reasons to travel and obviously by name you can tell it was non-American in the execution.
eS had possibly the first global team outside of Flip in the Menikmati era.
The difference here is CONS did directly work with some markets, I can't think of a single country that SoleTech interacted w/directly. It isn't doing all markets directly, but doing zero markets directly is a crappy way to run a business. I agree that direct distribution in a place like Estonia might not make sense, but there are other markets where it would probably be a good idea.
Converse weren't direct in all markets because it was no financially viable to operate in that way. Much like Sole Tech. Or DLX. Or a shit ton of brands.
Correct me if I am wrong, but are you saying that all skater owned brands should operate directly regardless of whether they can afford to?
With the greatest of respect, I feel like the direct/distributor thing is being blamed for something which happened in your scene, but it is an over simplification.
The skate stuff was a struggle, but we sold a bit. The snow stuff kept the skate flow crew going there...Without that, there would have been no skate team flow. It's 140 million people but the UK population was lest than half of that and did more then five times the turnover. It operated back then under EU laws, so rollout of business structure was simple copy and paste from existing models with lots of EU support...which is quite different from operating in Russia.
And this is what I mean about the understanding of business. Granted, my understanding is limited. But I have some experience there and am just trying to share it with you so you can maybe see a different picture.
And for that one other guy Carl Shipman was pro for stereo back in the mid 90s but he's from the UK and stereo hasn't been with dlx for some time so not sure if you count that as a euro pro on dlx
Expand Quote
Comparing DLX to Soletech was off because as I demonstrated; both brands have holes in their history.
etnies used to run those EuroCup contests but you overlook that. Those contests were my first reasons to travel and obviously by name you can tell it was non-American in the execution.
eS had possibly the first global team outside of Flip in the Menikmati era.[close]
My point is that I think SoleTech should be compared to Nike, Vans, and DC internationally and against DLX in the American market. DLX internationally is another thing as board companies do not have the money shoe companies have and certainly no where near the money SoleTech had in the late 2000s.
SoleTech gets minimal credit for the big contests and sponsoring the biggest of big name Euro pros, but not much. These are things that operate far from the avg skater and the local scene. Sponsoring the biggest names in skateboarding is not good community engagement. Instead, hooking up the right locals, improving the local spot, and so on really connects to the scene. In most cases, I can't find the energy to go to a pro video premiere, but it is super fun to go to a local crew video. I don't really care how amazing the SLS park is this year, but I do care about the new obstacle at the DIY spot.
Nike did well in this era nationally and in the international markets cause they backed big name pros AND locally important people. DC did this as well. Internationally, they knew who to support and weren't blocked by inter-distribution company politics. Those who ran distributions in Russia refused to sponsor skaters associated with brands in other distributions, which limited the growth and influence of the companies like SoleTech. SoleTech didn't know this, they honestly thought they were the coolest thing in the Russia, because they had no connection or understanding to the scene. I was completely aghast with their lack of understanding of the scene and their refusal to see it despite me telling them directly that their influence was crashing.
And, in the US--a key market where SoleTech failed--they didn't visibly interact with the local scene the same way DLX does. For example, https://www.dlxsf.com/thegrantsfund/ is a great low budget way to engage with the local scene. Not nearly as expensive as throwing a contest for the biggest pros, but far more impactful to local skaters/scenes.
Most big contests only matter for the handful of people who get to be a part of these events. The only one I can think of off the top of my head that isn't an isolated event for the few is the DGC and maybe the Copenhagen Pro.The difference here is CONS did directly work with some markets, I can't think of a single country that SoleTech interacted w/directly. It isn't doing all markets directly, but doing zero markets directly is a crappy way to run a business. I agree that direct distribution in a place like Estonia might not make sense, but there are other markets where it would probably be a good idea.Expand Quote
Converse weren't direct in all markets because it was no financially viable to operate in that way. Much like Sole Tech. Or DLX. Or a shit ton of brands.
Correct me if I am wrong, but are you saying that all skater owned brands should operate directly regardless of whether they can afford to?
With the greatest of respect, I feel like the direct/distributor thing is being blamed for something which happened in your scene, but it is an over simplification.[close]
Also, I'd imagine any competent executive would consider a host of characteristics when deciding which countries to interact with directly: Population, income, influence, etc.Expand Quote
The skate stuff was a struggle, but we sold a bit. The snow stuff kept the skate flow crew going there...Without that, there would have been no skate team flow. It's 140 million people but the UK population was lest than half of that and did more then five times the turnover. It operated back then under EU laws, so rollout of business structure was simple copy and paste from existing models with lots of EU support...which is quite different from operating in Russia.[close]
In terms of snow sales carrying the initial skate investment, which I imagine might have been the case for DC Russia, SoleTech had 32 Boots, which could have floated them since they did well with their form fitting boots at the time.Expand QuoteAnd this is what I mean about the understanding of business. Granted, my understanding is limited. But I have some experience there and am just trying to share it with you so you can maybe see a different picture.[close]
I appreciate the point of view and experience. I agree distributions could be the right choice in some markets, but they cannot be used for all markets. I can't think of single international market SoleTech controlled their distribution, which played a role in their downfall. That and their lack of support for local scenes in America, their price point trash shoes, and being a skater owned company in name, but not in practice all helped bring down one of the biggest companies in skateboarding. I initially blamed Nike for SoleTech's problems, I was wrong, Nike wouldn't have been able to come into the scene if SoleTech, DVS, Lakai, and others weren't failing the scene/the local shops around the world.
I get that, but this is the way the industry works. Companies fuck up, people complain, products get sold or don't. It's not some personal thing. No need to an emotional stake in companies.Expand QuoteExpand QuoteEveryday is DarkPools discusses Soletech day![close]
So be it, if there are threads on here discussing it and I feel compelled to post.
Perhaps I do talk too much about it, but whatever I'm unapologetic with who/what I love/enjoy in this life[close]
It's kinda laughable how a few questionable models (design and quality) from Soletech because they experimented (we don't see the big brands experimenting nearly as much) has jaded so many of you into holding a wrong opinion that ALL Soletech shoes are trash.Nah most of these are hideous
Marana
Joslin
MC Rap
KSL G6
Figgy G6
Wino G6 Slip
Wini Slip Cup
Tom Penny 2
Silo SC
Quattro
Swift 1.5
Accel Slim Plus
Muska
Creager
All of these are far from hideous in design and are on par with quality or skirt close to it from the big brands. If y'all wanna shit on Soletech for calling then trash, I'll correct and call you out each time on here, because it's simply not true. Some exceptions exist with bad models/bad runs, etc. Same applies to big brands. QC from Soletech is solid when it comes to OKing shoes to shop shelves.
If you shit on it because you don't like their designs (not your preference) and are uninspired by their marketing/sponsor/art direction of the brand, I can support that. That's valid.
I say this because many of these people critical of Soletech are hypocrites when it comes to non Soletech brands they're not fond of. They don't keep that same standard/energy when it's other brands.
(https://i.ibb.co/L6dzB9B/Leighton-Dyer-Being-AKook.jpg) (https://ibb.co/L6dzB9B)
I’m willing to let soletech die just so I won’t have to read these manifestos on here. Get a grip, sheesh
The simple fact is this.
If the onus is on the consumer to go out of their way to save the product, it’s not worth saving. It means I the product is one of two things (sometimes even both), flawed or undesirable.
That is just the nature of business.
The creager and Muska shoes were dogshit 25 years ago and are completely embarrassing today. They are only worn by cargo jean'd teen porn enthusiasts who need the air bubbles for when their heels dig into the carpet under their computer desk.
And for that one other guy Carl Shipman was pro for stereo back in the mid 90s but he's from the UK and stereo hasn't been with dlx for some time so not sure if you count that as a euro pro on dlx
Expand QuoteThe creager and Muska shoes were dogshit 25 years ago and are completely embarrassing today. They are only worn by cargo jean'd teen porn enthusiasts who need the air bubbles for when their heels dig into the carpet under their computer desk.
And for that one other guy Carl Shipman was pro for stereo back in the mid 90s but he's from the UK and stereo hasn't been with dlx for some time so not sure if you count that as a euro pro on dlx[close]
You have clearly never skated the creagers. they were literally the best shoe. This is why arto and jon allie pretty much ONLY wore them when they were younger.
the vast majority of Artos Menikmati part is in creagers. They were seriously great. had AIRMAX too!
4:00 (opening line) and on. if hes not wearing K1s hes wearing creagers
https://youtu.be/61KEnv2hCCQ?si=wIZZ4EikuKKZSNiL
Jon Allie sponsor me tape and dying to live part hes wearing creagers very often
https://youtu.be/S8DEyYYqSdI?si=rkoQ2RVhEqVmsjF1
often.https://youtu.be/52w4iylWMh8?si=yvNJHGaieQ8sr9Et
Arto also had a ton of great footage in the thinnest gravis and some vulc new balances. I think it's probably more the skaters are just good than the creagersExpand QuoteExpand QuoteThe creager and Muska shoes were dogshit 25 years ago and are completely embarrassing today. They are only worn by cargo jean'd teen porn enthusiasts who need the air bubbles for when their heels dig into the carpet under their computer desk.
And for that one other guy Carl Shipman was pro for stereo back in the mid 90s but he's from the UK and stereo hasn't been with dlx for some time so not sure if you count that as a euro pro on dlx[close]
You have clearly never skated the creagers. they were literally the best shoe. This is why arto and jon allie pretty much ONLY wore them when they were younger.
the vast majority of Artos Menikmati part is in creagers. They were seriously great. had AIRMAX too!
4:00 (opening line) and on. if hes not wearing K1s hes wearing creagers
https://youtu.be/61KEnv2hCCQ?si=wIZZ4EikuKKZSNiL
Jon Allie sponsor me tape and dying to live part hes wearing creagers very often
https://youtu.be/S8DEyYYqSdI?si=rkoQ2RVhEqVmsjF1
often.https://youtu.be/52w4iylWMh8?si=yvNJHGaieQ8sr9Et[close]
Expand QuoteThe creager and Muska shoes were dogshit 25 years ago and are completely embarrassing today. They are only worn by cargo jean'd teen porn enthusiasts who need the air bubbles for when their heels dig into the carpet under their computer desk.
And for that one other guy Carl Shipman was pro for stereo back in the mid 90s but he's from the UK and stereo hasn't been with dlx for some time so not sure if you count that as a euro pro on dlx[close]
You have clearly never skated the creagers. they were literally the best shoe. This is why arto and jon allie pretty much ONLY wore them when they were younger.
the vast majority of Artos Menikmati part is in creagers. They were seriously great. had AIRMAX too!
4:00 (opening line) and on. if hes not wearing K1s hes wearing creagers
https://youtu.be/61KEnv2hCCQ?si=wIZZ4EikuKKZSNiL
Jon Allie sponsor me tape and dying to live part hes wearing creagers
https://youtu.be/S8DEyYYqSdI?si=rkoQ2RVhEqVmsjF1
often.https://youtu.be/52w4iylWMh8?si=yvNJHGaieQ8sr9Et
Arto also had a ton of great footage in the thinnest gravis and some vulc new balances. I think it's probably more the skaters are just good than the creagersExpand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteThe creager and Muska shoes were dogshit 25 years ago and are completely embarrassing today. They are only worn by cargo jean'd teen porn enthusiasts who need the air bubbles for when their heels dig into the carpet under their computer desk.
And for that one other guy Carl Shipman was pro for stereo back in the mid 90s but he's from the UK and stereo hasn't been with dlx for some time so not sure if you count that as a euro pro on dlx[close]
You have clearly never skated the creagers. they were literally the best shoe. This is why arto and jon allie pretty much ONLY wore them when they were younger.
the vast majority of Artos Menikmati part is in creagers. They were seriously great. had AIRMAX too!
4:00 (opening line) and on. if hes not wearing K1s hes wearing creagers
https://youtu.be/61KEnv2hCCQ?si=wIZZ4EikuKKZSNiL
Jon Allie sponsor me tape and dying to live part hes wearing creagers very often
https://youtu.be/S8DEyYYqSdI?si=rkoQ2RVhEqVmsjF1
often.https://youtu.be/52w4iylWMh8?si=yvNJHGaieQ8sr9Et[close][close]
Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.
Jesus Christ homie get some pussy.
Ditching soletech will definitely help you in this.
Expand QuoteAnd for that one other guy Carl Shipman was pro for stereo back in the mid 90s but he's from the UK and stereo hasn't been with dlx for some time so not sure if you count that as a euro pro on dlx[close]
Carl was pre-DLX Stereo.
The DLX version was very late 90s. JR Neves/Dustin Dollin times...
Expand QuoteSorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.
Jesus Christ homie get some pussy.
Ditching soletech will definitely help you in this.[close]
Me, with recently obtained pussy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mgd04hHh/62832-AFF-39-A5-48-BC-9-B7-E-5-D0-B6-FF2-FECF.jpg)
Expand QuoteMe, with recently obtained pussy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mgd04hHh/62832-AFF-39-A5-48-BC-9-B7-E-5-D0-B6-FF2-FECF.jpg)[close]
Doesn’t look like a diss to me.Expand QuoteExpand QuoteMe, with recently obtained pussy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mgd04hHh/62832-AFF-39-A5-48-BC-9-B7-E-5-D0-B6-FF2-FECF.jpg)[close][close]
Should gnar you for the dedication to diss on me hahah
Doesn’t look like a diss to me.Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteMe, with recently obtained pussy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mgd04hHh/62832-AFF-39-A5-48-BC-9-B7-E-5-D0-B6-FF2-FECF.jpg)[close][close]
Should gnar you for the dedication to diss on me hahah[close]
You look super happy to have that marana, and for good reason. That’s some good looking maranussy.
stop thanking the dude for kicking dirt in your face man, hit 'em back
Expand Quotestop thanking the dude for kicking dirt in your face man, hit 'em back[close]
Reminds me of this gem :D https://youtu.be/vBNFQhr4O20?feature=shared
I was being facetious with actually thanking them via a gnar. I could hit back with worse insults but then I'd have to stoop to their sad level to throw out unrelated character attacks at someone online for having an opinion. Don't need that kinda negativity in 2024, they've got that insufferable corner taken care of. That's an insult they brought on themselves.
Doesn’t look like a diss to me.Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteMe, with recently obtained pussy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mgd04hHh/62832-AFF-39-A5-48-BC-9-B7-E-5-D0-B6-FF2-FECF.jpg)[close][close]
Should gnar you for the dedication to diss on me hahah[close]
You look super happy to have that marana, and for good reason. That’s some good looking maranussy.
Expand QuoteDoesn’t look like a diss to me.Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteMe, with recently obtained pussy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mgd04hHh/62832-AFF-39-A5-48-BC-9-B7-E-5-D0-B6-FF2-FECF.jpg)[close][close]
Should gnar you for the dedication to diss on me hahah[close]
You look super happy to have that marana, and for good reason. That’s some good looking maranussy.[close]
Try fit your dick in that
Expand QuoteMe, with recently obtained pussy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mgd04hHh/62832-AFF-39-A5-48-BC-9-B7-E-5-D0-B6-FF2-FECF.jpg)[close]
Nope haven’t seen his videos. But he does look stoked to have that great looking, well performing shoe in his hand.Expand QuoteDoesn’t look like a diss to me.Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteMe, with recently obtained pussy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mgd04hHh/62832-AFF-39-A5-48-BC-9-B7-E-5-D0-B6-FF2-FECF.jpg)[close][close]
Should gnar you for the dedication to diss on me hahah[close]
You look super happy to have that marana, and for good reason. That’s some good looking maranussy.[close]
I don't know if you have seen that guy's videos (I've got no shade to throw at him personally) about collecting skate shoes, but some people in the comments like to bag on him for their own insecure reasons. It makes sense @Freelancevagrant doubles down on dissing me for having an opinion based on that
It's obviously not me, but that all black Marana is a good looking shoe
etnies should pay you guys to stop posting about their shoes because at this point i’d gladly take foot pain or ugly dad shoes over being associated with this sanctimonious attitudeHell yeah. Send me some free shoes and pay me. ;D
plus then you’d actually have a reason to be so involved in this third party’s affairs
Have-a some marinara
Have-a some marinara
I know-a you like
I know-a you like, I know-a you like
La-lasagna
I'd never buy a pair of Nike or Adidas
The 4 pairs of NB 440, high and low I've had
maranussy
etnies should pay you guys to stop posting about their shoes because at this point i’d gladly take foot pain or ugly dad shoes over being associated with this sanctimonious attitude
plus then you’d actually have a reason to be so involved in this third party’s affairs
Average slap poster
(https://i.ibb.co/2gpKfyk/coopted.png)
Selling direct to consumer the way they do undoes any credibility Soletech has as a “core” company.
Expand QuoteAverage slap poster
(https://i.ibb.co/2gpKfyk/coopted.png)[close]
Any political discussion usually ends up like this too, especially any time someone spitting knowledge shows up and pisses off the resident ogres
Expand QuoteSelling direct to consumer the way they do undoes any credibility Soletech has as a “core” company.[close]
20% off your first order too
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteAverage slap poster
(https://i.ibb.co/2gpKfyk/coopted.png)[close]
Any political discussion usually ends up like this too, especially any time someone spitting knowledge shows up and pisses off the resident ogres[close]
cry ab it
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteAverage slap poster
(https://i.ibb.co/2gpKfyk/coopted.png)[close]
Any political discussion usually ends up like this too, especially any time someone spitting knowledge shows up and pisses off the resident ogres[close]
cry ab it[close]
Aw yep.
Dakota came out with a part that is in my top three of the yearI really liked dakotas part. And i met him once and he gave me some good tips on getting more height from my kickflips. So i was rooting for him when his shoe was announced. But then i saw the shoe and though oh no, a tragic.
Releases a shoe that makes me think maybe I should try some FP's
But then i saw the shoe and though oh no, a tragic.Expand QuoteDakota came out with a part that is in my top three of the year
Releases a shoe that makes me think maybe I should try some FP's[close]
Expand QuoteBut then i saw the shoe and though oh no, a tragic.Expand QuoteDakota came out with a part that is in my top three of the year
Releases a shoe that makes me think maybe I should try some FP's[close][close]
If they’re really trying to save their dying brand and they toiled up to produce 10,000 Dakotas…
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteBut then i saw the shoe and though oh no, a tragic.Expand QuoteDakota came out with a part that is in my top three of the year
Releases a shoe that makes me think maybe I should try some FP's[close][close]
If they’re really trying to save their dying brand and they toiled up to produce 10,000 Dakotas…[close]
If Dakota is your company’s Obi Wan it’s safe to say your company is fucked.
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteBut then i saw the shoe and though oh no, a tragic.Expand QuoteDakota came out with a part that is in my top three of the year
Releases a shoe that makes me think maybe I should try some FP's[close][close]
If they’re really trying to save their dying brand and they toiled up to produce 10,000 Dakotas…[close]
If Dakota is your company’s Obi Wan it’s safe to say your company is fucked.[close]
It's funny that you said that
Because this
(https://emerica.com/cdn/shop/files/6102000138-626-A-001_800x.png?v=1698889840)
looks like this to me
(https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db92d0f5c8eb85f2b6f7b456d76313b9518f61c3/0_561_2086_1557/master/2086.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none)
too many people here forget how old they are
if you're a high school or college aged skateboarder what has soletech done in that decade or less time span you've been skating that makes you feel like their shoes are cool? and the answer to that is "absolutely nothing"
emerica and etnies have "good teams" but they don't have anybody on those teams who are the equivalent of what marc johnson, heath kirchart, sal barbier, andrew reynolds, es templeton, mike vallely, etc were to us. skateboarding is in a completely different place than it was 25-20, even 15-10 years ago and honestly the idea that things even have to be "core" is a completely archaic ideology within skateboarding now. kids now literally grew up with nike/cons, adidas and new balance being not only a part of skateboarding but they grew up with skateboarding being "part of society" and they buy shit off the internet so they don't need core shops, they watch video clips on instagram, so they don't need to hear about what's happening in magazines and at shops and skateparks so there's way less of a sense of "community" in skateboarding today and the way we had things is never company back because consumerism even niche consumerism runs through the internet now.
so "we" don't have to "let soletech" live or die that's not how free markets works
if you're old enough to be nostalgic for how things used to be this will come off depressing but "our time" is over as far as dictating the market goes and as more of us continually age out and stop spending money within this sector brands like etnies, es, emerica, and lakai struggle more and more to sustain
the only thing that can save any of these companies is their ability to start attracting marketable talent like they used to but with dwindling budgets to do that with we know that's never going to happen because nike adidas and new balance can pay the "cool kids" way better than soletech or lakai can
just enjoy what little time these companies have left and enjoy the fleeting time we even have left physically to even skate at a high enough level to still feel compelled enough to immerse yourself in skateboarding because we're all 30+ (on the young side) if we're even engaging this type of topic because again nobody under that age even understands why it should matter if soletech exists or not because to them soletech just chooses not to put together a trendy team where as the sport brands do
nostalgia is powerful and i wouldn't be at all surprised if nike adidas or even nb ended up buying the soletech trademarks eventually just to make them cool again later by doing what soletech can't afford to do and that's pay a group of trendy skaters to do that
and before anybody bitches that nike came in with a bunch of money and crippled the smaller brands from being able to complete just remember that guys don't go pro at skateboarding not to make money and none of them gave a shit about skateboarding remaining skater owned because because those pros all understood that in order for nike to even want back in skateboarding that skateboarding itself was already changing and becoming more marketable so this whole thing was literally just an ordinary growth process and there's no victim's because it was just evolution and that meant shit was bound to die off as things changed
“Sole technologies. Owned by Nike.
Watch out for me.”
Nike and Soletech should have listened to that kid in The Reason.
Not weird at all. Can you imagine the Sole Tech brands with Nike money and marketing behind them?Expand Quote“Sole technologies. Owned by Nike.
Watch out for me.”
Nike and Soletech should have listened to that kid in The Reason.[close]
it might seem weird now but there's equity in the logos and histories of those brands
that's why nike bought bauer (hockey equipment) and that they owned umbro at one point for soccer etc
it's always been profitable for larger brands to buy out smaller brands and run them internally at minimal cost
Not weird at all. Can you imagine the Sole Tech brands with Nike money and marketing behind them?Expand QuoteExpand Quote“Sole technologies. Owned by Nike.
Watch out for me.”
Nike and Soletech should have listened to that kid in The Reason.[close]
it might seem weird now but there's equity in the logos and histories of those brands
that's why nike bought bauer (hockey equipment) and that they owned umbro at one point for soccer etc
it's always been profitable for larger brands to buy out smaller brands and run them internally at minimal cost[close]
Can you imagine a Dunk with G6 foam??
nike kids HATE that people still like emerica. its so funny
nike kids HATE that people still like emerica. its so funnyyeah i can tell you were laughing really hard when you typed this
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteSelling direct to consumer the way they do undoes any credibility Soletech has as a “core” company.[close]
20% off your first order too[close]
Hours is yours, Last Resort AB, Lakai all sell direct also thou.
I'm just imagining two pairs of the same Emericas fitting the exact same. QC on all the shoes I've tried to get are real bad...Not weird at all. Can you imagine the Sole Tech brands with Nike money and marketing behind them?Expand QuoteExpand Quote“Sole technologies. Owned by Nike.
Watch out for me.”
Nike and Soletech should have listened to that kid in The Reason.[close]
it might seem weird now but there's equity in the logos and histories of those brands
that's why nike bought bauer (hockey equipment) and that they owned umbro at one point for soccer etc
it's always been profitable for larger brands to buy out smaller brands and run them internally at minimal cost[close]
Can you imagine a Dunk with G6 foam??
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteSelling direct to consumer the way they do undoes any credibility Soletech has as a “core” company.[close]
20% off your first order too[close]
Hours is yours, Last Resort AB, Lakai all sell direct also thou.[close]
In another thread someone posted a pie chart of what shoes are on shop walls. if the chart is to be accurate and true, then most shops are practically not carrying those "core" shoe brands.
So considering most consumers are ordering online, and shops aren't carrying "core" shoes its kind of an easy answer for what these companies have to do to survive
yeah i can tell you were laughing really hard when you typed thisExpand Quotenike kids HATE that people still like emerica. its so funny[close]
Expand Quoteyeah i can tell you were laughing really hard when you typed thisExpand Quotenike kids HATE that people still like emerica. its so funny[close][close]
Didnt laugh at all but it got you rev'd up enough.
How are those new abominable dakota servolds that were almost cancelled because not enough shops pre booked them to skate in?
Expand QuoteExpand Quoteyeah i can tell you were laughing really hard when you typed thisExpand Quotenike kids HATE that people still like emerica. its so funny[close][close]
Didnt laugh at all but it got you rev'd up enough.
How are those new abominable dakota servolds that were almost cancelled because not enough shops pre booked them to skate in?[close]
i certainly laughed
again why would we kill off sole tech before like... FP or fallen first? Or Cariuma i just never get why everyone is so anti sole tech compared to other things first. I could care less rally about it all. again its just the topic.FP was dead from the start
FP was dead from the startExpand Quoteagain why would we kill off sole tech before like... FP or fallen first? Or Cariuma i just never get why everyone is so anti sole tech compared to other things first. I could care less rally about it all. again its just the topic.[close]
Fallen isn't really Fallen right now
Cariuma is gonna be seen a lot less now that the Berrics are on hiatus or whatever
Sole Tech brands just aren't what the kids are asking for, and the proof is in that pie chart in another thread. Shops aren't going to carry what isn't in demand.
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteSelling direct to consumer the way they do undoes any credibility Soletech has as a “core” company.[close]
20% off your first order too[close]
Hours is yours, Last Resort AB, Lakai all sell direct also thou.[close]
In another thread someone posted a pie chart of what shoes are on shop walls. if the chart is to be accurate and true, then most shops are practically not carrying those "core" shoe brands.
So considering most consumers are ordering online, and shops aren't carrying "core" shoes its kind of an easy answer for what these companies have to do to survive[close]
Slam City Skates in London don't carry Lakai, Es or Etines. Told me it's not worth putting them on display instead of the usual Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Vans. Last time i was in there they had one pair of Emerica and a couple of Last Resort.
So i just dont know why people are trying extra hard to dislike it but theres been no mention of the other brands like Fallen or Cariuma in this.
Expand QuoteFP was dead from the startExpand Quoteagain why would we kill off sole tech before like... FP or fallen first? Or Cariuma i just never get why everyone is so anti sole tech compared to other things first. I could care less rally about it all. again its just the topic.[close]
Fallen isn't really Fallen right now
Cariuma is gonna be seen a lot less now that the Berrics are on hiatus or whatever
Sole Tech brands just aren't what the kids are asking for, and the proof is in that pie chart in another thread. Shops aren't going to carry what isn't in demand.[close]
This all makes sense of course. It doesnt matter to me whatever anyone likes and i do get that shops need to carry nike and NB and vans way heavier due to demand. And im fully aware that sole tech is not nearly as powerful as it was in the late 90s/00 but if we are just gonna burn brands to the ground, they just arent first on my list. Or second. Out of the remaining "core" shoe brands left, Soletech would be part of the last groups id want to see leave. So i just dont know why people are trying extra hard to dislike it but theres been no mention of the other brands like Fallen or Cariuma in this.
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteBut then i saw the shoe and though oh no, a tragic.Expand QuoteDakota came out with a part that is in my top three of the year
Releases a shoe that makes me think maybe I should try some FP's[close][close]
If they’re really trying to save their dying brand and they toiled up to produce 10,000 Dakotas…[close]
If Dakota is your company’s Obi Wan it’s safe to say your company is fucked.[close]
It's funny that you said that
Because this
(https://emerica.com/cdn/shop/files/6102000138-626-A-001_800x.png?v=1698889840)
looks like this to me
(https://yt3.googleusercontent.com/vtkTX--PihRWbQj7n7lBOKqPcoeGO8ICN7yLZRTDLMckR8bsJkJNqivOk6a8K_JnTOH9d26u1A=s900-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteFP was dead from the startExpand Quoteagain why would we kill off sole tech before like... FP or fallen first? Or Cariuma i just never get why everyone is so anti sole tech compared to other things first. I could care less rally about it all. again its just the topic.[close]
Fallen isn't really Fallen right now
Cariuma is gonna be seen a lot less now that the Berrics are on hiatus or whatever
Sole Tech brands just aren't what the kids are asking for, and the proof is in that pie chart in another thread. Shops aren't going to carry what isn't in demand.[close]
This all makes sense of course. It doesnt matter to me whatever anyone likes and i do get that shops need to carry nike and NB and vans way heavier due to demand. And im fully aware that sole tech is not nearly as powerful as it was in the late 90s/00 but if we are just gonna burn brands to the ground, they just arent first on my list. Or second. Out of the remaining "core" shoe brands left, Soletech would be part of the last groups id want to see leave. So i just dont know why people are trying extra hard to dislike it but theres been no mention of the other brands like Fallen or Cariuma in this.[close]
It’s just hard to watch the fall from grace and superstardom, like eS and Emerica held in skateboarding at one time. Plenty of their situation today was determined by outside forces and some was - and continues to be - determined by them and their mindboggling choices. Why does Es have but not have a team? Why does Etnies team change so often? There is so little cohesion. Emerica, don’t nobody care about that SoCal white boy stinky stoner rock lifestyle anymore.
Anyway, none of the brands you mentioned are relevant enough to warrant such strong feelings because they have no mark made. They are just here for what’s left of the pie.
Cariuma has money to market outside of skateboarding, which they have been doing. Footprint is dumb. Nobody expects anything culture-wise from them. And Fallen? Well, yeah, pretty dead on arrival.
If you can carve out your little niche and sell some shoes satisfactorily, then great:
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteBut then i saw the shoe and though oh no, a tragic.Expand QuoteDakota came out with a part that is in my top three of the year
Releases a shoe that makes me think maybe I should try some FP's[close][close]
If they’re really trying to save their dying brand and they toiled up to produce 10,000 Dakotas…[close]
If Dakota is your company’s Obi Wan it’s safe to say your company is fucked.[close]
It's funny that you said that
Because this
(https://emerica.com/cdn/shop/files/6102000138-626-A-001_800x.png?v=1698889840)
looks like this to me
With humble beginnings originating from Kansas City, MO, DeWayne "Steezus Christ" McMurry is a living expression of what life looks like when you stay true to what you believe in and pursue your dreams.
From manifesting some of the most extraordinary opportunities, to withholding the composure to battle through unfavorable situations, DeWayne has been a genuine inspiration to not only his peers and individuals around the world, but has truly influenced an entire culture and inspired the new generation.
As one of the most known unknowns in the world of skateboarding, DeWayne's association with The Berrics, one of the world's most visited skate websites, introduced the general public to the "Steezus Christ" brand. His infectious personality and good energy was undeniable, and his 'public debut' on The Berrics created a cult following, which compounded DeWayne's positive influence on the culture over night. DeWayne’s been an industry figurehead ever since, effectively producing and creating content behind the scenes, whilst simultaneously maintaining a strong on-camera presence.
With an unwavering desire for knowledge, a non-stop positive outlook on life, and a contagiously uplifting spirit, DeWayne has not only been the ideal ambassador for a bundle of industry-critical brands such as New Era, Skullcandy, eS Footwear, and The Berrics, but most notably has transcended the skateboard industry to become a notable figure in the sneaker world and streetwear culture.
Under his mantra of "Don't quit your day dream", DeWayne is a reminder to all that dreams do come true and a lifestyle can become your job. DeWayne is a reflection of patience, persistence and conviction, of which he stayed true to himself and his beliefs. Thus, resulting in a character who is well-known globally for his passion to continue growing skateboarding ethically, and keeping kids all around the world uplifted and inspired.
DeWayne is one of the most recognizable digital media profiles in the industry, and is blessed to travel the world and engage the youth, investing his time simply to remind kids and his admirers not to quit their day dream. That said, it's clear that DeWayne’s ability to inspire others simply through his inherent character and way of living is due to his conscious efforts to stay grounded, and most importantly, spend time to reflect. This can be seen on a weekly basis on the globally recognized podcast, The Nine Club Experience.
DeWayne's delivery, both verbally and in action, is a demonstration that qualifies he lives by the advice he gives. Unquestionably respected by his peers, associates and corporate partners, DeWayne is a pure "by-product" of what a wholesome life in skate-boarding can create if one stays true to themselves and the culture that raised them. DeWayne’s embodiment of this testament is what makes him so valuable to the industry, of which he stands to become a legacy-profile that will never be forgotten.
[close]
Slam City Skates in London don't carry Lakai, Es or Etines. Told me it's not worth putting them on display instead of the usual Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Vans. Last time i was in there they had one pair of Emerica and a couple of Last Resort.
QC on Nike's are kind of bad now, too, compared to years' past. (from what long time sneakerheads tell me)I'm just imagining two pairs of the same Emericas fitting the exact same. QC on all the shoes I've tried to get are real bad...Expand QuoteNot weird at all. Can you imagine the Sole Tech brands with Nike money and marketing behind them?Expand QuoteExpand Quote“Sole technologies. Owned by Nike.
Watch out for me.”
Nike and Soletech should have listened to that kid in The Reason.[close]
it might seem weird now but there's equity in the logos and histories of those brands
that's why nike bought bauer (hockey equipment) and that they owned umbro at one point for soccer etc
it's always been profitable for larger brands to buy out smaller brands and run them internally at minimal cost[close]
Can you imagine a Dunk with G6 foam??[close]
With humble beginnings originating from Kansas City, MO,Emerica Servold (oxblood) is a living expression of what life looks like when you stay true to what you believe in and pursue your dreams.
From manifesting some of the most extraordinary opportunities, to withholding the composure to battle through unfavorable situations, Emerica Servold (oxblood) has been a genuine inspiration to not only his peers and individuals around the world, but has truly influenced an entire culture and inspired the new generation.
As one of the most known unknowns in the world of skateboarding, Emerica Servold (oxblood)’s association with The Berrics, one of the world's most visited skate websites, introduced the general public to the "Emerica" brand. His infectious personality and good energy was undeniable, and his 'public debut' on The Berrics created a cult following, which compounded Emerica Servold (oxblood)’s positive influence on the culture over night. Emerica Servold (oxblood)’s been an industry figurehead ever since, effectively producing and creating content behind the scenes, whilst simultaneously maintaining a strong on-camera presence.
With an unwavering desire for knowledge, a non-stop positive outlook on life, and a contagiously uplifting spirit, Emerica Servold (oxblood)’s has not only been the ideal ambassador for a bundle of industry-critical brands such as New Era, Skullcandy, eS Footwear, and The Berrics, but most notably has transcended the skateboard industry to become a notable figure in the sneaker world and streetwear culture.
Under his mantra of "Don't quit your day dream", Emerica Servold (oxblood) is a reminder to all that dreams do come true and a lifestyle can become your job. Emerica Servold (oxblood) is a reflection of patience, persistence and conviction, of which he stayed true to himself and his beliefs. Thus, resulting in a character who is well-known globally for his passion to continue growing skateboarding ethically, and keeping kids all around the world uplifted and inspired.
Emerica Servold (oxblood) is one of the most recognizable digital media profiles in the industry, and is blessed to travel the world and engage the youth, investing his time simply to remind kids and his admirers not to quit their day dream. That said, it's clear that Emerica Servold (oxblood)’s ability to inspire others simply through his inherent character and way of living is due to his conscious efforts to stay grounded, and most importantly, spend time to reflect. This can be seen on a weekly basis on the globally recognized podcast, The Nine Club Experience.
Emerica Servold (oxblood)’s delivery, both verbally and in action, is a demonstration that qualifies he lives by the advice he gives. Unquestionably respected by his peers, associates and corporate partners, Emerica Servold (oxblood) is a pure "by-product" of what a wholesome life in skate-boarding can create if one stays true to themselves and the culture that raised them. Emerica Servold (oxblood)’s embodiment of this testament is what makes him so valuable to the industry, of which he stands to become a legacy-profile that will never be forgotten.
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteFP was dead from the startExpand Quoteagain why would we kill off sole tech before like... FP or fallen first? Or Cariuma i just never get why everyone is so anti sole tech compared to other things first. I could care less rally about it all. again its just the topic.[close]
Fallen isn't really Fallen right now
Cariuma is gonna be seen a lot less now that the Berrics are on hiatus or whatever
Sole Tech brands just aren't what the kids are asking for, and the proof is in that pie chart in another thread. Shops aren't going to carry what isn't in demand.[close]
This all makes sense of course. It doesnt matter to me whatever anyone likes and i do get that shops need to carry nike and NB and vans way heavier due to demand. And im fully aware that sole tech is not nearly as powerful as it was in the late 90s/00 but if we are just gonna burn brands to the ground, they just arent first on my list. Or second. Out of the remaining "core" shoe brands left, Soletech would be part of the last groups id want to see leave. So i just dont know why people are trying extra hard to dislike it but theres been no mention of the other brands like Fallen or Cariuma in this.[close]
It’s just hard to watch the fall from grace and superstardom, like eS and Emerica held in skateboarding at one time. Plenty of their situation today was determined by outside forces and some was - and continues to be - determined by them and their mindboggling choices. Why does Es have but not have a team? Why does Etnies team change so often? There is so little cohesion. Emerica, don’t nobody care about that SoCal white boy stinky stoner rock lifestyle anymore.
Anyway, none of the brands you mentioned are relevant enough to warrant such strong feelings because they have no mark made. They are just here for what’s left of the pie.
Cariuma has money to market outside of skateboarding, which they have been doing. Footprint is dumb. Nobody expects anything culture-wise from them. And Fallen? Well, yeah, pretty dead on arrival.
If you can carve out your little niche and sell some shoes satisfactorily, then great:[close]
I feel like just like any other sort of way people dress and skate. theres pool skaters. they wear the high socks and ride indys. there are the nike dunk folk who wear the all over print. there are the emerica types still. there are crazy ben kadow heshers and duffle people still. i think theres still something for everyone. Yea trends change but i think you only speak for yourself when you say that nobody cares about that stuff when theres new kids like braden hoban and even chris wimers.
then you sort of contradict yourself and say those other brands arent relovent enough like emerica is which is why they dont matter. sooooo emerica is relevant and matters??
I'm sure people think we weren't trying to diversify the brand through team riders but the sad truth is that during my time there, I tried to get so many different riders who either just weren't interested or ended up getting a better offer which of course I totally understood and supported.
Expand QuoteSo i just dont know why people are trying extra hard to dislike it but theres been no mention of the other brands like Fallen or Cariuma in this.[close]
or maybe this is just you and thats why nobody else brought this nonsense up
not everybody's lives are dictated by virtue signaling
because we know that don brown is a homophobe / transphobe who has no problem liking some horrifically hateful shit daily on instagram
Expand QuoteFP was dead from the startExpand Quoteagain why would we kill off sole tech before like... FP or fallen first? Or Cariuma i just never get why everyone is so anti sole tech compared to other things first. I could care less rally about it all. again its just the topic.[close]
Fallen isn't really Fallen right now
Cariuma is gonna be seen a lot less now that the Berrics are on hiatus or whatever
Sole Tech brands just aren't what the kids are asking for, and the proof is in that pie chart in another thread. Shops aren't going to carry what isn't in demand.[close]
This all makes sense of course. It doesnt matter to me whatever anyone likes and i do get that shops need to carry nike and NB and vans way heavier due to demand. And im fully aware that sole tech is not nearly as powerful as it was in the late 90s/00 but if we are just gonna burn brands to the ground, they just arent first on my list. Or second. Out of the remaining "core" shoe brands left, Soletech would be part of the last groups id want to see leave. So i just dont know why people are trying extra hard to dislike it but theres been no mention of the other brands like Fallen or Cariuma in this.
QC on Nike's are kind of bad now, too, compared to years' past. (from what long time sneakerheads tell me)Expand QuoteI'm just imagining two pairs of the same Emericas fitting the exact same. QC on all the shoes I've tried to get are real bad...Expand QuoteNot weird at all. Can you imagine the Sole Tech brands with Nike money and marketing behind them?Expand QuoteExpand Quote“Sole technologies. Owned by Nike.
Watch out for me.”
Nike and Soletech should have listened to that kid in The Reason.[close]
it might seem weird now but there's equity in the logos and histories of those brands
that's why nike bought bauer (hockey equipment) and that they owned umbro at one point for soccer etc
it's always been profitable for larger brands to buy out smaller brands and run them internally at minimal cost[close]
Can you imagine a Dunk with G6 foam??[close][close]
Yes.Expand QuoteExpand QuoteFP was dead from the startExpand Quoteagain why would we kill off sole tech before like... FP or fallen first? Or Cariuma i just never get why everyone is so anti sole tech compared to other things first. I could care less rally about it all. again its just the topic.[close]
Fallen isn't really Fallen right now
Cariuma is gonna be seen a lot less now that the Berrics are on hiatus or whatever
Sole Tech brands just aren't what the kids are asking for, and the proof is in that pie chart in another thread. Shops aren't going to carry what isn't in demand.[close]
This all makes sense of course. It doesnt matter to me whatever anyone likes and i do get that shops need to carry nike and NB and vans way heavier due to demand. And im fully aware that sole tech is not nearly as powerful as it was in the late 90s/00 but if we are just gonna burn brands to the ground, they just arent first on my list. Or second. Out of the remaining "core" shoe brands left, Soletech would be part of the last groups id want to see leave. So i just dont know why people are trying extra hard to dislike it but theres been no mention of the other brands like Fallen or Cariuma in this.[close]
fallen is one step off from dvs c1rca and osiris as far as "zombie" brands go and by that i mean a brand with some equity still in its name just selling the same shit they sold 15 years ago to a shrinking consumer base
like i've yet to see a pair of fallens in the wild since the relaunch and when you look at their website and instagram you can tell they're never going to do anything beyond just milking it until they can't milk it anymore
they're not coming up with anything new they're not promoting anybody new and they were always a niche brand even amongst core skate shoe brands
like you had to have a certain image to want a pair of fallens where as soletech and lakai always had a pretty wide range of designs
at this point i'm surprised nobody has brought adio back i mean you'd think there's enough equity in kenny anderson's shoe alone to get something going there and if whoever got behind that was smart enough they could get a young team together and start putting out new designs and again fallen is somehow staying afloat i don't see how adio couldn't double that success since that was a pretty universally marketed company
Yes.Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteFP was dead from the startExpand Quoteagain why would we kill off sole tech before like... FP or fallen first? Or Cariuma i just never get why everyone is so anti sole tech compared to other things first. I could care less rally about it all. again its just the topic.[close]
Fallen isn't really Fallen right now
Cariuma is gonna be seen a lot less now that the Berrics are on hiatus or whatever
Sole Tech brands just aren't what the kids are asking for, and the proof is in that pie chart in another thread. Shops aren't going to carry what isn't in demand.[close]
This all makes sense of course. It doesnt matter to me whatever anyone likes and i do get that shops need to carry nike and NB and vans way heavier due to demand. And im fully aware that sole tech is not nearly as powerful as it was in the late 90s/00 but if we are just gonna burn brands to the ground, they just arent first on my list. Or second. Out of the remaining "core" shoe brands left, Soletech would be part of the last groups id want to see leave. So i just dont know why people are trying extra hard to dislike it but theres been no mention of the other brands like Fallen or Cariuma in this.[close]
fallen is one step off from dvs c1rca and osiris as far as "zombie" brands go and by that i mean a brand with some equity still in its name just selling the same shit they sold 15 years ago to a shrinking consumer base
like i've yet to see a pair of fallens in the wild since the relaunch and when you look at their website and instagram you can tell they're never going to do anything beyond just milking it until they can't milk it anymore
they're not coming up with anything new they're not promoting anybody new and they were always a niche brand even amongst core skate shoe brands
like you had to have a certain image to want a pair of fallens where as soletech and lakai always had a pretty wide range of designs
at this point i'm surprised nobody has brought adio back i mean you'd think there's enough equity in kenny anderson's shoe alone to get something going there and if whoever got behind that was smart enough they could get a young team together and start putting out new designs and again fallen is somehow staying afloat i don't see how adio couldn't double that success since that was a pretty universally marketed company[close]
YES... Pour on more legacy shoe companys!
THAT's precisely what the consumer is begging for: they want more of YESTERDAY!!!
Expand QuoteSlam City Skates in London don't carry Lakai, Es or Etines. Told me it's not worth putting them on display instead of the usual Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Vans. Last time i was in there they had one pair of Emerica and a couple of Last Resort.[close]
Slam seem to carry éS.
https://www.slamcity.com/products/s-two-nine-8-skate-shoes-white-red
https://www.instagram.com/p/C3h_QPhqtCN/?img_index=1
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteSo i just dont know why people are trying extra hard to dislike it but theres been no mention of the other brands like Fallen or Cariuma in this.[close]
or maybe this is just you and thats why nobody else brought this nonsense up
not everybody's lives are dictated by virtue signaling
because we know that don brown is a homophobe / transphobe who has no problem liking some horrifically hateful shit daily on instagram[close]
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteSo i just dont know why people are trying extra hard to dislike it but theres been no mention of the other brands like Fallen or Cariuma in this.[close]
or maybe this is just you and thats why nobody else brought this nonsense up
not everybody's lives are dictated by virtue signaling
because we know that don brown is a homophobe / transphobe who has no problem liking some horrifically hateful shit daily on instagram[close][close]
get your quoting skills up dog.
for someone writing paragraphs about your favorite company i figured you’d be paying closer attention.
but alas i am a fool for believing anyone simping for sole tech is capable of critical thinking / making these necessary inferences.
why do you think no one will touch PJ Ladd with a 40 foot pole besides Don Brown?
I dont give a fuck about soletech, they still make good shit but we only get the moon boots models at my country or those accel slims with a paper thin sole and extraboardfeel so you can differenciate if your bolts are phillips or allen while riding ;D
I’m not on a socials, so can I get the details on Don Brown being a homophobe/transphobe. If that’s true, that’s going to change my decades of buying Emericashe follows tons of anti trans and anti women and anti lgbtq profiles.
he follows tons of anti trans and anti women and anti lgbtq profiles.Expand QuoteI’m not on a socials, so can I get the details on Don Brown being a homophobe/transphobe. If that’s true, that’s going to change my decades of buying Emericas[close]
get over it fucking pussy he still up and you still bitchin fucking cry baby ass bitchExpand QuoteSo i just dont know why people are trying extra hard to dislike it but theres been no mention of the other brands like Fallen or Cariuma in this.[close]
because we know that don brown is a homophobe / transphobe who has no problem liking some horrifically hateful shit daily on instagram
get over it fucking pussy he still up and you still bitchin fucking cry baby ass bitchExpand QuoteExpand QuoteSo i just dont know why people are trying extra hard to dislike it but theres been no mention of the other brands like Fallen or Cariuma in this.[close]
because we know that don brown is a homophobe / transphobe who has no problem liking some horrifically hateful shit daily on instagram[close]
get over it fucking pussy he still up and you still bitchin fucking cry baby ass bitchAren’t you a cheery, precious little daisy.
Not sure how much longer Sole Tech is gonna be a thing. Pierre finally sold the company to swiss company Nidecker Snowboards. Supposedly theres not much value with eS and Emerica from a revenue standpoint so they may not be around in a year or two, but Etnies and 32 are supposed to stick around.
Hate to see it happen, but it looks like the last of independently-owned core footwear brands (minus LRAB) is finally coming to an end
Post a link about the sale.
Expand QuotePost a link about the sale.[close]
Couldn’t find anything on the googles but this popped up.
https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/04/etnies-welcomes-sal-barbier-as-brands-creative-director/
If Sal is behind the designs Etnies may have a shot at a pretty substantial comeback. Would love to see that
Yep. Owned by Snowboarder brand
https://www.ndk.group/
Home of Action Sport Brands
The Nidecker Group is home to the most innovative and inspirational action sports and lifestyle brands: Bataleon, Emerica, éS, Etnies, Jones, Nidecker, Rome, Thirtytwo and #YES.
Official statement just went up
https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/05/sole-tech-owner-to-sell-etnies-es-emerica-and-thirtytwo-to-nidecker-group/ (https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/05/sole-tech-owner-to-sell-etnies-es-emerica-and-thirtytwo-to-nidecker-group/)
So nothing changesExpand QuoteOfficial statement just went up
https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/05/sole-tech-owner-to-sell-etnies-es-emerica-and-thirtytwo-to-nidecker-group/ (https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/05/sole-tech-owner-to-sell-etnies-es-emerica-and-thirtytwo-to-nidecker-group/)[close]
Came here to post this. I read the article, don’t know much about the group but they claim to want to keep everything going. Doesn’t seem like a DC or Dwindle type situation but we’ll see. They all apparently skate or can at least pose a flat ground trick.
Expand QuotePost a link about the sale.[close]
Couldn’t find anything on the googles but this popped up.
https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/04/etnies-welcomes-sal-barbier-as-brands-creative-director/
If Sal is behind the designs Etnies may have a shot at a pretty substantial comeback. Would love to see that
Idk, can vampires ski?only into the darkness
only into the darknessExpand QuoteIdk, can vampires ski?[close]