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When it comes to puffy skate shoes, éS would probably be one of the top three names that come to mind when thinking about the genre’s late 90s and early 00s era. And with these designs becoming more and more relevant within streetwear and high-fashion, it appears that the legacy skate brand has spotted an opportunity that connects both its roots and what’s about to be trending once again.
Hot off the heels of the chunky runner trend that just recently surpassed a five-year milestone, skate brands like DC Shoes, Vans, and éS are revisiting some of their most prominent moments in footwear by reviving their bulky designs that once dominated footwear design. While the chunky runner trend was conceptualized for an array of brand’s ranging from streetwear to luxury fashion houses, the puffy skate shoe look is also mirroring the same model, as designers like Virgil Abloh are bringing these silhouettes into the collections at Louis Vuitton.
While OG skate maestro Eric Koston has become known throughout the sneaker community for his array of Dunk SB colorways and his own silhouettes, he’s still been relevant in footwear since his days with éS, who gave him his first seven signature styles in the late 90s. Despite not being an official Nike athlete until 2007, Koston was still an avid Nike and Jordan collector, even taking design cues from the Jordan 12 upper on the éS Koston 3.
éS focuses their designs on a blend of both technology and aesthetics, testing their product offerings with their roster of skate athletes at their STI lab to ensure best in class functionality and comfort when skating. With thorough attention to detail that’s obsessed down to the micromillimeter, the brand has developed an array of footwear styles that promote maximum protection against impact, improve grip and flexibility for better board feel, and provide better durability in high wearing areas.
2019 Collection
With the era of late 90s and early 00s skate shoe styles becoming relevant, yet again in footwear, the core skate label is capitalizing on the movement for their 2019 collection that not only draws inspiration from their early designs, but also some of the era’s head-turning colors and aesthetics.
éS Symbol
Reincarnated from the early éS heritage, the Symbol has been updated with new technologies like the brand’s STI Energy Foam midsole and mesh underlays for enhanced airflow. There are even a few nods to 80s and 90s basketball and tennis icons, featuring both the Bred color palette from the Jordan 4 and the wild renderings from Andre Agassi’s Nike Air Tech Challenge IV.
éS Silo
The éS Silo capitalizes on the chunky sneaker movement with its puffy, yet flexible aesthetic that incorporates the brand’s signature design elements like the mesh and suede layering, the herringbone pattern on the outsole, and the wavy midsole shape that’s become so iconic in skate culture. While the shoe comes in minimalist color palettes, it also appears in a tonal lime rendition that speaks to the upcoming vibrant color pop trends.
éS Accel OG – Bodega
Formed with a single sheet of high-grade action leather, the Accel OG Bodega modernizes the iconic offering that first hit the skate scene in 1995 with a no-sew upper design that’s surgically injected with silicone pods. The Ferrari Red colorway even comes tightly wrapped in protective shrink wrap as a nod to its Bodega naming inspiration.
Throwback Skate Offerings
