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etnies is an American footwear brand based in Lake Forest, California and owned by Sole Technology, Inc. with roots deeply embedded in skateboarding. etnies is primarily a maker of footwear designed for skateboarding, but in more recent years they have also created shoes and clothing for snowboarders, BMX and motocross riders, as well as surfers.
Started in France in 1986, the brand's original name was Etnics, derived from the word "ethnic," which was a nod to the skateboarding subculture. It was later renamed etnies due to legal issues. In 1989, Pierre-André Sénizergues started marketing etnies in the United States as etnies, U.S.A.
etnies is considered to be the most accessible of Sole Technology's brands. While its other brands, éS Footwear and Emerica, focus more narrowly on skateboarding shoes, etnies has a broader appeal, designing shoes for toddlers, as well as etnies Girl, a line for girls and women.
Aside from shoes, the etnies collection also consists of other apparel. These include: shorts pants, T-shirts, hats, beanies, bags, jackets, accessories, tops and sweatshirts.
etnies has outlet stores in the U.S. called etnies:exs that also carries other brands owned by Sole Technology, Inc. etnies sponsors many professional action sports athletes such as skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, BMX, and motocross.