How SB Stefan Janoski Athletic Shoes Transformed Skate Shoes
Many shoe brands focus signature brands on specific sports. Some span several disciplines with a single brand, like the SB Stefan Janoski athletic shoe for men. The Nike Janoski line includes minimal look shoes for skateboarding, streetwear, and gym-based athletic endeavors.
How is the SB Stefan Janoski an art statement?
Stefan Janoski involved himself vigorously in the design of his first signature skate shoes. He took inspiration for the original sockliner from his family's winery in Vacaville, CA, and constructed the cushioning out of cork.
While the Janoski features unique and unusual colorways, the overall impression is a minimalist approach. Many colors are neutral to allow you to incorporate the shoes with a wide variety of clothing styles, from pants and jeans, to skirts and casual dresses. The low-top skateboard shoes complement a sockless look. There are over 10 versions of the SB Stefan Janoski, and a few are suitable not just for skateboarding but also for gym aerobics, running, biking and spinning, and weightlifting.
- Hyperfeel XT - Additional padding and special toecap for aggressive or competitive skating; Anthracite, black
- Zoom Slip-On - Zoom Air Technology, rubber outsole; Watercolor, black and white
- Zoom Canvas Premium - Premium materials and graphic design prints; Colorway examples are dynamic pink and beach
- SB Stefan Janoski Max - Air Max sole; Gamma blue, multicolor
- Zoom Elite - 2016; Leather and suede uppers; Colors cork, shadow
Nike experimented not only with several versions and styles but also with a few notable collaborations. A few follow.
- Janoski x Levi Strauss - Indigo upper with red trim and white midsole
- Janoski x Geoff McFetridge - Graphic design featuring human silhouettes; Black and white or royal blue and white
- Janoski x Thomas Campbell -
What specs make SB Janoski great skate shoes?
- Traction and surface feel - Rubber sole with an herringbone pattern
- Impact absorption - MaxAir cushion in the heel
- Additional cushioning - Sockliner made of foam
- Foot mobility - Flex grooves encourage natural movement
- Zoom technology - Gives you speed, cushioning, and agility
How did Nike venture into skate shoes?
In 2002, Nike sought to become a force in skateboarding with its SB line and the Dunks. It was a goal Nike had been intent on realizing since the 1990s when skateboarders first rode in basketball shoes.
When the Nike Dunk's popularity faltered, the shoe giant enlisted a couple of skateboarding icons to help keep them relevant in the industry. Stefan Janoski, an American professional skateboarder, helped design a new line of men's skateboarder's shoes. Nike launched the new performance signature shoe in 2009. Although skateboarding sneakers may have started as basketball kicks, the new line was not merely a collection of Janoski basketball shoes. Janoski insisted on specific changes that transformed thin-soled basketball sneakers into skating men's shoes.
Nike SB Stefan Janoski vs. Vans Old Skool
| SB Janoski | Old Skool | |
|---|---|---|
| Closures | Laces, Velcro, or Slip-On | Hook and loop Velcro, Laces, Slip-On |
| Uppers | Textile, leather, or suede | leather, suede, canvas |
| Silhouette | Low top | Low top |
| Board feel | Free Sole | Contoured Sockliner |
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