Etnies
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Footwear, Skateboarding, BMX |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Pierre André Sénizergues |
| Headquarters | Lake Forest , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Pierre André Sénizergues (CEO) |
| Products | Skateboarding shoes, BMX shoes, apparel |
| Parent | Sole Technology, Inc. |
| Website | www |
Etnies (presented as etnies) is a footwear company with French-American roots, headquartered in Lake Forest, California, and is a subsidiary of Sole Technology, Inc.. The brand actively supports professional athletes in skateboarding and BMX, offering signature shoe editions.
History
Established in 1986, Pierre André Sénizergues transitioned to etnies following his career as a professional skateboarder and played a leading role in designing notable shoe models such as the "Senix," "Lo-Cut," and "Intercity." Sénizergues was instrumental in expanding etnies into the United States and founding Sole Technology, which also manages other brands including Emerica, éS (inactive between 2012 and 2014), and ThirtyTwo snowboarding footwear.
Skate park
In collaboration with Lake Forest, California, etnies inaugurated the etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest in 2003, recognized as the largest public skatepark within the state, spanning more than . This venue has hosted events sponsored by Sole Technology, including the "Goofy vs. Regular (GvR)" skateboarding contests held in 2007 and 2008.
Support of women's skateboarding
etnies has demonstrated a long-term commitment to supporting female skateboarders. The company was an early sponsor of Stephanie Pearson, recognized as the first Black woman to turn professional in skateboarding. In 2001, etnies introduced the "Albatross," which was the inaugural women's pro signature skate shoe, designed for and endorsed by Elissa Steamer.
In 2016, etnies collaborated with professional skateboarder Amelia Brodka, founder of Exposure—a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women and girls through skateboarding. This partnership culminated in the 2023 release of the etnies x Exposure collection of shoes and apparel, aimed at increasing global support and awareness for women’s skateboarding.
The brand continues its support by sponsoring athletes such as Fabiana Delfino, who turned professional with Santa Cruz Skateboards in 2019 following her debut at an Exposure event in 2016. Delfino joined the etnies team in September 2023. By backing Delfino and participating in Exposure initiatives, etnies reinforces its dedication to inclusivity and growth within the skateboarding community.
Charity work
In 2012, etnies contributed 2,000 pairs of shoes to homeless and disadvantaged populations in Los Angeles during an Easter shoe donation campaign. The event featured interviews with CEO Sénizergues and included participation from etnies-sponsored riders Devine Calloway, BK, Andy Bell, company staff, volunteer celebrities, as well as then-mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Trees for the future
The company initiated tree-planting projects under the "Trees for the future" program in both Costa Rica and Brazil. For every pair of Jameson 2 Eco shoes sold in Costa Rica, etnies committed to planting a tree within the Maleku rainforest reserve. Sponsored riders such as Benji Weatherly, CJ Kanuha, Chris Del Moro, and Ryan Sheckler took part in the first tree-planting event held in March 2011.
In 2012, this initiative was extended to Brazil through a partnership with Trees for the Future, involving the planting of 100,000 trees within São Paulo’s Atlantic Rainforest for each purchase of select Jameson 2 and Eco models. CEO Sénizergues highlighted the brand’s environmental dedication: "We play on our planet; therefore, we must protect it... ensuring that future generations can witness and benefit from these vital rainforests."
On April 22, 2015, etnies celebrated planting its one millionth tree and reaffirmed that "Trees for the future" would persist; every pair of etnies footwear sold throughout 2015 contributed to ongoing rainforest restoration efforts.
Filmography
- Skateboarding
- 2007: Restless
- 2018: Album
- BMX
- 2002: Forward
- 2007: Grounded
- 2017: Chapters
Active Skate Team
- Fabiana Delfino
- Trevor McClung
- Nick Garcia
- Barney Page
- Nassim Lachhab
- Andy Anderson
- Julian Lewis
- Noah Francisco
Former Skate Team
- Ryan Sheckler
- Chris Joslin
- Jake Wooten
- Aurélien Giraud
- Rune Glifberg
- Sean Malto
- Mikey Taylor
- Jason Dill
- Ali Boulala
- Arto Saari
- Elissa Steamer
- Willow
- Ryan Lay
- David Reyes
- Jamie Tancowny
- Matt Berger
- Samarria Brevard
- Tyler Bledsoe
- Nick Fiorini
- Kyle Leeper
- Jose Rojo
- Bastien Salabanzi
- Lincoln Ueda
- Chris Lambert
- Rob Gonzalez
- Mike Vallely
- Carlos de Andrade
- Fabrizio Santos
Active BMX Team
- Nathan Williams
- Chase Hawk
- Aaron Ross
- Ben Lewis
- Tom Dugan
- Devon Smilie
- Reed Stark
- Jordan Godwin
- Jordan Okane
External links
- Articles with short description
- Clothing brands of the United States
- Skateboarding companies
- Snowboarding companies
- Clothing companies established in 1986
- Companies based in Lake Forest, California
- Shoe companies of the United States
- 2000s fashion
- 2010s fashion
- Shoe brands
- 1986 establishments in California
- Skateboard shoe companies
- Clothing brands of France