Skechers

Skechers USA, Inc. was founded in 1992 by Robert Greenberg, who had previously co-founded L.A. Gear. Starting as a distributor for Dr. Martens boots, Greenberg quickly pivoted the company to design and market its own footwear. The name "Skechers" — a made-up word derived from the Southern California slang for restless, energetic youth — captured the brand's target demographic of active, trend-conscious consumers. The company went public in 1999 and grew into one of the largest footwear brands in the United States by volume.

Skechers built its early success on casual and street-style sneakers, particularly the chunky D'Lites and Energy series that rode the 1990s dad-shoe trend. However, the brand's most transformative innovation came with the Skechers GOwalk series in 2011 — lightweight, slip-on walking shoes with responsive cushioning that became a massive commercial hit. The brand expanded aggressively into performance running with the Gorun and Max Cushioning lines, attracting endorsements from elite marathoners like Meb Keflezighi. More recently, the Slip-ins hands-free technology — allowing users to step into shoes without bending down or using hands — and the Arch Fit podiatrist-designed comfort system have reinforced Skechers's reputation for comfort-first innovation.

Skechers occupies a unique and often underestimated position in the footwear industry. With annual revenues exceeding $8 billion, it competes with Nike and Adidas at global scale while maintaining a distinctly accessible, comfort-driven identity. The brand's celebrity partnerships — including campaigns with Snoop Dogg, Martha Stewart, and Howie Long — reflect its broad cultural reach. While rarely embraced by sneaker collectors, Skechers has achieved something few brands can claim: millions of everyday consumers who choose it because their feet feel better at the end of the day.