words // Brandon Richard
Originally a subsidiary of the Kinney Shoe Corporation, Foot Locker first opened its doors at the Puente Hills Mall in Industry, California in 1974. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the sportswear and footwear retailer is an industry leader and the destination for the latest and greatest styles.
With so much history, Footwear News profiled Foot Locker and its 15 best selling styles of the past 40 year in their latest issue. Find out which shoes have helped Foot Locker stay on top below and let us know how many of the 15 you own.
adidas Superstar
Introduced in 1969, the Superstar was part of the selection when Foot Locker first opened its doors and continues to be a hot seller today.
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Launched in a single colorway as the original performance basketball shoe in 1917, the Chuck Taylor is now available in thousands of styles, and has even crossed over into fashion.
PUMA Suede
Released in 1968, the PUMA Suede was at the height of its popularity during the 70s and 80s, when it was famously worn by the Knicks’ Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier. It also was a staple with 80s b-boys.
Nike Cortez
One of the first Nike styles to be sold, the Cortez has been on Foot Locker shelves for four decades.
K-Swiss Classic LX
The Classic LX made its Foot Locker debut in the early 80s as a functional tennis shoe and now serves as a casual fashion option.
New Balance 574
As popular as ever today, the 574 is one of New Balance’s most classic designs to date.
Nike Air Force 1
Now more than 30 years old, the Air Force 1 is a mainstay on monthly best seller lists.
Timberland 6-Inch Boot
The 6-Inch Boot was introduced into Foot Locker in 1993 and remains a staple today.
Reebok The Pump
One of the defining and most imitated sneakers of the 80s, Reebok’s The Pump was equipped with a functional pump on the tongue that sent air into the shoe’s internal cushion.
Nike Tuned 1 (Air Max Plus)
A Foot Locker exclusive in 1998, millions of pairs were sold stateside, and it continues to be a hot seller in Europe.
ASICS GEL Kayano
ASICS’ flagship runner first launched in 1993 and the series continues to raise the bar in running innovation.
Air Jordan 11
Released in 1995, the most iconic model in the Air Jordan series marked the introduction of patent leather on basketball shoes.
Reebok Classic Leather
The Classic Leather is just one of the Reebok Classics that has had success in the marketplace since the 80s.
Nike Air Zoom Generation
Like its signature athlete, the Air Zoom Generation had high expectations. Its placement on this list indicates that, like LeBron James, it lived up to all of them and then some. Many sneakerheads are hoping for a retro in the near future.
Nike Air Foamposite One
The 1997 release changed the way sneakers could be made, using liquid foam to create a molded upper. More colorways are relasing today than ever.
Visit Footwear News for more coverage on Foot Locker's major milestone.
