In a world where there are shoes that can help you run faster using a carbon fiber plate, jump higher with Hyperfuse technology, and lift more weight by providing more stability, where is there room for a minimalist skateboarding shoe to thrive? Insert Stefan Janoski and his need for a shoe that allowed him to feel his skateboard’s movement underneath his feet. 

He wanted to be exposed to every bump and scrape to callous his body to the rigors of skateboarding. This wasn’t possible in the previous Nike skateboarding shoes of the time, which emphasized padding to protect skaters’ feet.

Stefan Janoski is a professional skateboarder from Vacaville, California. He is sponsored by Habitat, Venture, Nike SB, Mob, Bones Bearings, Glassy, and Official Hats. When thinking about creating shoes, he wanted a shoe that didn’t feel heavy on his feet. He began to work with Nike SB in the early 2000s to create what would become the Nike SB Janoski. It was met with resistance initially as the Nike design team thought it was too simple and wouldn’t catch on. Stefan Janoski pressed forward, providing them with a specific reason for each part of the shoe, which helped turn the SB Janoski into the success it is today.

The first Nike SB Stefan Janoski line was only expected to last on store shelves for six months. Fast forward almost twelve years, and the Nike Stefan Janoski lineup has now become one of the most successful collaborations Nike has ever done. The Nike Stefan Janoski SB shoes are so popular that they are not only worn by skateboarders but by everyday people who want a minimalist, fashionable shoe to compliment their wardrobe without being too flashy.

The original sock liner of the Nike SB Janoski was made of cork as a throwback to Stefan’s family winery in Vacaville, California. Since that original version, there have been 1,530 different versions of the Janoski style including a colorful stripe colorway. The shoe is also now available as a part of the Nike ID program, meaning it can be customized to fit the purchaser’s personal preferences. So much for only lasting six months on store shelves, the SB Janoski is definitely here to stay.

The SB Janoski will continue to be popular for years to come because there is always a need for stylish, minimalist shoes in a world full of way too many options. This collaboration proves that you don’t always need the latest technology to be in style. Sometimes all you need is a man, a vision, and a skateboard.

Here are a just few of Janoski’s Nike SB’s

Images from nike.com

Featured image from Berrics