words_Nick Engvall Competition sparks all of us to achieve greater than expected results. The sneaker industry is no exception. 20 years ago was arguably the most competitive time in the sneaker industry, and during that time, sneakers developed into an industry and culture that no one could have ever expected. Advertising slogans like “Pump Up, Air Out” became as memorable as the athletes who wore the shoes back in the day. In 1989 Reebok introduced The Pump, a high cut silhouette that not only had people imitating the release valve sounds in every sneaker store, but also sent a clear message to every other company in the sneaker industry: Step your game up or get left behind. Reebok’s groundbreaking technology allowing a custom fit to be had by anyone who simply “Pumped Up” was spread across many silhouettes over the years. However, the one model that became imitated by nearly every footwear company throughout the early 90’s was The Pump. Many companies tried their hand at a Pump-like system, but none endured the way Reebok did. After a number of years of fierce marketing “zingers” back and forth with Nike, and in large part due to Michael Jordan’s success on the court, the Pump slowly lost its popularity. Not completely by any means, but it fell into the niche of a somewhat small number of dedicated enthusiasts.

Reebok The Pump 20th Anniversary Collaborations