Author’s Note
This paper is for English 21007 by Professor Susan Delamare.
Questions about this paper can be sent to Contact: [email protected]
Abstract
Skateboarding from an underground hobby to an olympic sport has managed to establish its own place in the footwear industry. The DC Legacy OG Shoe is one of the few shoe models that is responsible for revolutionizing skateboarding culture which is why its one of a kind parts and functions will be discussed.
Introduction
For 27 years DC Shoes has not only been a must have for skaters but is also responsible for current streetwear fashion trends. One of their most iconic products, the OG Legacy (Fig.1) has been a staple for the company since the 90s and continues to constantly sell out. The shoe comes bulkier than most other shoes because of the different layers it has from leather, cotton, suede and plastic according to the retail website Sneaker Details. Furthermore it has been claimed as one of the top 10 shoes to skate in because of the protection it offers from the reinforced shoe layers in the soles, shoelaces, ankle and toe area according to RedBull, 2020. All of this makes it very difficult for the shoe to tear which is very common in skateboarding. This gives the customer a product that will last and feel safe. These shoes are available in multiple colorwaves in all sizes for male and female with the classic DC Logo in the front, back and bottom as well as the brand name on the side of the shoe.
Background
Before skateboarding was recognized as a legit sport, recently being added to the olympic games it was an underground hobby that wasn’t paid attention to until the 90s. Skateboarding consisted usually of kids that didn’t fit into the norm and therefore found a connection within each other through skateboarding. While skateboarding these teens ended up ripping through shoes every week because of the friction on the sandpaper skateboards have for grip, this issue gave light to companies seeking new market opportunities.
Future DC founders Ken Block and Damon Way met at a community college where they noticed a lack of innovation within shoes in skateboarding and decided to make shoes their main target. After success from their previous brand, Droors they changed it into Droors Clothing, DC in 1991. The first shoe they created was The Danny Way signature model(figure)1994, the shoe was actually made to withstand skateboarding with multiple layers of protection and a thick shoe tongue. This was a huge success for the company and from then on they continued making some of its most iconic shoes within skateboarding culture. The Lynx (Figure) 1998 featured a daily slimmer look and then the Og Legacy shoe (figure)1998 featured a combination of the protection layers and the daily look the past two shoes showed. The Legacy OG shoe would go on to be the most comfortable and durable pair of shoes for the coming 23 years.
List of Parts and Functions
The DC Legacy OG Shoe was designed as a comfortable shoe for skaters that were often proneto injuries. In order to prevent these injuries the shoe features multiple layers of leather, rubber, cotton and suede. The tongue unlike other sneakers is full of cotton giving the shoe a very snug fit. On the backside the shoe is also a little higher than a mid top sneaker in order to maintain the ankle straight to prevent any ankle sprains or fractures. These layers of suede and cotton are wrapped by leather to prevent the shoes from getting any holes. Holes are very common in skaters shoes from the friction of the griptape on the skateboard which rubs on the shoe anytime the skater does a trick. This is why this layer of leather also wraps around the toe area. Although these shoes can cost an average of $90 they can also be found for $30 on sales. These shoes can last for months depending on the time skated but are made to last.
I. Tongue
The tongue layer consists of a strand of leather that keeps the cotton in place with the DC logo in the front. This tongue differs from others because of how big it is. This extra cotton layer provides a snug effect that pops out and keeps the top of the customer’s foot well protected.
II. Ankle layer
This layer features leather on the outside and cotton on the inside. These layers are very thick and cover the customers’ ankles. This is done to prevent ankle sprains and fractures. It is usual for skaters to go through this pain, therefore the shoe offers a snug effect with heavy layers that helps maintain the user’s ankle in place when landing skate tricks. This layer alone is a part of why most people choose this shoe.
III. Upper Layer
As shown in Figure 3, The red green and black is the first layer the shoe offers which is a mix of cotton and suede. This gives the user a more comfortable feel while equipping these shoes whether it’s to skate or for casual wear. It is the most vulnerable layer and is also the last layer to rip before new shoes are needed.
IV. Backside Layer
This layer covers the backside of the upper layer with leather material. This leather maintains the cotton safe and connects with the middle layer. This adds extra durability to the shoe since the leather will last longer protecting the cotton from forming any holes.
V. Middle Layer
The leather in this layer wraps around the whole shoe connecting the toe cap and backside of the shoe in order to prevent rips from performing skate tricks, keeping the cotton safe. The DC brand name is also usually placed here.
VI. Sole
The sole contains a cushion like sole inside of the shoe which provides comfort for skaters when they are jumping off high places. This cushion is meant to take up most of the impact and is the first layer of sole.
VII. Outsole
This is the outer part of the sole which also consists of a different layer under the main sole. This part is made out of plastic in order to apply more grip and durability to the shoes. Under the shoe is usually where shoes rip after a while because of the constant friction from the griptape on a skateboard and so the plastic is a great way to prevent these rips.
VIII. Toe Cap
This layer of leather is connected to the middle layer but is built thicker in order to combat holes. When performing tricks skaters usually use the front of their toes in order to perform a flick motion which is why the toe cap has reinforced protection.
IX. Eyelets Protector
These eyelet protectors are made out of heavy plastic in order to prevent the cotton shoe laces from breaking. It also forms a barrier between the laces and tongue so that if the laces break the tongue won’t get damaged.
Conclusion
The multilayers offer a comfortable and durable shoe that has been the center of skateboarding culture. DC Shoes since the 90s has also kept into account the demographic in who their customers are by releasing these shoes every year in numerous colorwaves and keeping them at a fair price. The thick stacked layer design from this shoe has also inspired new companies to mimic the skateboard clothing aesthetic. As skateboarding has grown to be accepted as a legitimate sport people have also turned to the newest trends by dressing like skaters. Skaters usually get their skating shoes or clothing from companies like DC but since most teens are unaware of these skating companies they turn to companies like H&M who consistently restock their shelves to keep up with the newest trends. The DC Legacy OG shoes were one of the few reasons for the DC brand’s success which has grown to culturally impact the whole shoe and fashion industry.
References
DC Legacy OG Shoes (2019), SaltyPeaks, [Figure 1] Retrieved October 5, 2021, fromhttps://www.saltypeaks.com/products/45106/DC-Legacy-OG-Shoes.html
DC Legacy OG, (n.d), Sneaker Details, Retrieved October 7, 2021, from
https://sneakerdetails.com/running/dc-legacy-og-shoes-reviews-mens-womens/
Foley, Z. (2020,October 15), 10 best skate shoes for skateboarding to check out, Red Bull https://www.redbull.com/us-en/best-skate-shoes,https://www.redbull.com/us-en/best-skate-shoes Skinner, J. (2019), DC’S RESURGENCE TRANSCENDS SKATEBOARDING, SneakerFreaker, [Figure 2] https://www.sneakerfreaker.com/features/dcs-resurgence-transcends-skateboarding TheLuxe Pack (2021), DC Shoes, [Figure 3] Retrieved September 25, 2021, from
https://www.dcshoes.com/luxe-pack-collection/
TheLuxe Pack (2021), DC Shoes, [Figure 4] Retrieved September 25, 2021, from https://www.dcshoes.com/luxe-pack-collection/
