Reebok Classic Leather

Reebok Classic Leather History

The early ’80s was a period that saw the introduction of iconic footwear silhouettes. In Reebok’s case, 1983 was the year of the perennial favorite, the Reebok Classic Leather. At that time, the low-top athletic sneaker was the first running shoe to get full leather upper treatment. The support and comfort brought by the Reebok Classic Leather kick’s upper material were almost unprecedented that up until today many sneakerheads attest to its durability and lasting performance.

After coming out in 1983, the Reebok Classic Leather was initially conceptualized as a running and fitness shoe with its full leather exterior and thick soles. The simple design and all-white colorway was an instant hit among sneaker fans.

Some 30 years after its release, Reebok began to reinvigorate their sneaker portfolio after more than a decade of struggles in sales. Among the designs that were embraced with an impactful comeback is the Reebok Classic Leather.

However, more than its performance, the Reebok Classic Leather sneaker caught big-time attention because of its almost luxurious leather that not only enhances its ability on the track or the road but also offers a very stylish look. The practically omnipresent shoe in footwear retailer racks and shelves have also blurred the fine line between performance and style.

After more than three decades, the Reebok Classic Leather line is now more known as a lifestyle phenomenon that continues to dazzle people. The Brits, specifically, were heavily-influenced and deeply-enamored with this sneaker. The aesthetics of the Reebok Classic Leather has endeared most specifically the European and Asian markets that have caught up on the Reebok Classic Leather craze.

  Reebok Classic Leather collaborations

The leather shoe is the subject of several collaborations throughout the years. Some of these collaborations are rightfully called collector’s items — one of the most sought after and famous example of these collaborative works happened during the Reebok Classic Leather’s 30th Anniversary. To this day, the Reebok Classic Leather 30th Anniversary x Sneakersnstuff is still almost every sneakerhead’s dream.

It was no ordinary comeback for the 1980s running shoe as by the time it was launched sometime early 2000s in Europe and then Asia, the booming fashion sneaker market has already started with other major brand releasing previous designs as lifestyle and fashion sneakers. The presence of celebrities as endorsers for these sneakers also helped a lot in reviving the popularity of the Reebok Classic.

Among those stars are American rapper and hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar who collaborated with the brand in late 2014.

The collaboration between Lamar resulted in the release of favorite shoes that include the Kendrick Lamar x Reebok Ventilator in 2015. Other designs followed like the Kendrick Lamar x Reebok Classic Leather, and  Kendrick Lamar x Reebok Classic Leather Deconstructed.

Another favorite collaborative shoe with the musician is the  Kendrick Lamar x Reebok Classic Leather Perfect Split pack, and Kendrick Lamar x Reebok Classic Leather Lux in 2016 before he jumped ship to rival Nike’s collaboration territory.

Soon the brand also made headway after copping collaborations with other celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Ariana Grande, Machine Gun Kelly, Future, and Gucci Mane. Fashion supermodel Gigi Hadid also brought it to the attention of many style-conscious millennials and fashionistas with the Gigi Hadid x Reebok Classic Leather Melted Metals.  

In 2016, the release of the Reebok Classic Leather Fleck in time for the fall and winter seasons has continued the style heritage of the iconic sneaker. The retro shoe comes in fleck textile in the toe box mixed with suede overlays and a nubuck heel cap for stability and protection.

Keeping up with the times, the Reebok Classic Leather was also released in the WP or Wheat Pack that comes in Golden Wheat, Urban Grey, and Chalk colorways with ripple soles that smoothly wraps the feet with hues that are not too flashy yet retaining the vintage appeal of the heritage sneaker.

Aside from collaborating with famous stars, the Reebok Classic Leather was also released in various themes like the cannabis culture-inspired Munchies Pack or the MSP. The Reebok Classic Leather MSP was released just in time for the so-called Weed Day with a 4/20 idea celebrating common junk foods binged by weed junkies after a hitting a joint.

The exciting new colorways of the Reebok Classic Leather MSP or Munchies Pack include the Peanut Butter & Jam (PB&J), the Cosmic Brownie, and the Slushie colorways. The unique theme and designs for each colorway released for Spring/Summer 2017 were youthful hues of brown, white, and tan premium leather and suedes that are further decked with splashes of colors in the outsoles and insoles adding a playful charm and visual treat to wearers.

Luckily, though, Reebok maintains it's down to earth approach and possible appeal to the masses by making the classic shoe almost always available and at a very affordable price. The sneaker is likely here to stay for maybe the next 30 years.