Kickers

Kickers began in France in 1970, when Daniel Raufast saw the musical Hair and noticed all the barefooted young people in jeans. He wanted a shoe to suit the blue-jean generation, and designer Jacques Chevallereau made the first jean boot. It was a different sort of shoe: nubuck, short-boot shapes, tough natural rubber crepe soles, eyelets, contrast stitching and panels that nodded to denim.

It sold fast. In one season production grew from 300 to 12,000 pairs a month, and by 1974 Kickers were on sale in over 70 countries. The label reached the UK in 1970 and has been part of British youth culture for over 50 years. Today it makes shoes and clothing for men, women and kids.