K-Swiss is popular brand of athletic shoes available worldwide. An American brand, K-Swiss has its headquarters in Westlake Village, California, though its strong line of athletic and casual shoes sells extremely well across the globe. The K-Swiss sneaker has become a significant product in the sports, casual, and dress segments of the shoe market.
In 1966, at the height of civil unrest in Cuba, two Swiss immigrants introduced the world’s first leather tennis shoes in the country. At the time the brothers had no idea they were forming the core of a future major shoe franchise – the K-Swiss brand – in Los Angeles, California. But everything was quiet for the next two decades until, in 1986, Stride Rite retail executive Steven Nichols took an active interest in the K-Swiss tennis shoes. He tried to convince his superiors to acquire K-Swiss. But none of them were interested and decided to pass on the opportunity.
Steven Nichols however didn’t share the same views. So he got together a group of investors and bought the company, K-Swiss, for 20 million USD. Steven Nichols called the distinctive K-Swiss white stripes, the design which he loved, on white K-Swiss leather tennis shoes the “classic 50-year shoe“. His bosses back at Stride Rite should’ve listened to him. In 2005, the K-Swiss brand’s global sales passed the $500 million mark.
The K-Swiss brand is known for designing high quality shoes that aren’t “mass produced”. Sure, there are two or three other shoes brands out there that outsell K-Swiss in the global market. But K-Swiss will always be known as the shoe company that prefers quality and novelty over mass sales.
Today K-Swiss offers several lines of shoes for men and women.
K-Swiss Tennis Shoes – This is where it all began. K-Swiss tennis shoes are perfect for the sport. After all they’ve been making these kinds of shoes since 1966. While the classic K-Swiss leather tennis shoe design is still available, the company now also manufactures non-leather tennis shoes.
K-Swiss Running Shoes – K-Swiss running shoes are ultra-light and soft on the feet. These shoes are perfect for the serious running athlete.
K-Swiss Triathlon Shoes – The K-Swiss triathlon series offers the perfect balance of comfort and stability. Designed with care and made from genuine material, these triathlon shoes can withstand tough punishment and still feel nice to put on for an evening stroll.
K-Swiss Free Running Shoes – This line of K-Swiss running shoes is for the casual runner. Recommended for amateur athletes who have no intention of taking up serious running.
From a pair of leather tennis shoes in 1966 to being endorsed by some of the world’s most popular athletes of the 21st century—Anna Kournikova, Tommy Haas, Mike Bryan, Bob Bryan, Sam Querrey, Cara Black, Chris Leto, Michaella Krajicek, Leanda Cave, etc.—the K-Swiss sneaker brand has definitely come a long way. Only time will tell what K-Swiss has in store for us next.