Kickers: KICK MULE LEATHER PINK

1970, France; Daniel Raufast comes across a poster advertising the musical Hair. Intrigued by the barefooted youngsters wearing jeans, he decides to develop a new shoe concept for the ‘blue-jean’ generation. Designer Jacques Chevallareau then created the first jean boot.


This new shoe was different. From the use of nubuck, shapes that looked more like short boots than regular shoes and tough soles made with natural rubber, to the eyelets, contrast stitching, panels and appliques that reference denim, the success was instant. Within one season, Kicker production grew from 300 to 12,000 per month and by 1974, Kickers were selling in over 70 countries.

1970s

Five years after Kickers launched, the Kick Hi Boot arrived. Elton, Bowie Daltrey and all other 70s greats visited the store on London’s King’s Road.



1980s

The 80s saw Manchester’s Stone Roses create the ‘Perry Boy’ style with the iconic Kick Hi as a staple of the uniform.



1990s

In the 90s, Hacienda DJs pushed Kickers bright red boots front and center. Ian Brown kicked things off by challenging Hacienda’s strict no trainers policy with a pair of Kick His, the Stone Roses wore them in their video for ‘Fools Gold’ and a sheep sported a pair on the cover of the ‘Stepping Stone’ single by The Farm. Other fans of the brand? Jarvis Cocker, Noel Gallagher, the Arctic Monkeys and the Kaiser Chiefs.

2000s

Another strong decade for the brand, the 00s saw artists such as The Streets, So Solid Crew and Miss Dynamite rocking Kickers.



2010s

Launching collabs with Palace Skateboards, Henry Holland and many more, Kickers cult status continued. Adding new silhouettes to the line-up, the Tovni trainer-inspired shoe was a standout.

2020s

Kickers celebrated its 50th anniversary, launching a project to set the tone for the next 50 years. Working with 50 young creatives across various genres, Kickers showcased their talents. Supporting young people is something they’ve always done and will continue to do.