Half a century is a long time to do anything. Especially to stay relevant, to stay loved, to remain in the fold. But somehow Kickers have done all of that without really breaking a sweat. We were first introduced to the brand in 1975, and they’ve become a mainstay in the shoe rotations of punks, ravers, hippies and average joes ever since.
If you browse Proper frequently, you’ll be well acquainted with the Kickers story by now – red tab, green tab, crepe sole, chunky stitching, padded collar. An iconic boot you can spot from across a muddy field or a Manchester bus stop. It’s a brand that has been worn by everyone from Bowie and Gallagher to about half of Britain’s schoolkids. Kickers isn’t just footwear; it’s footwear for the people.
But while history & sentiment are great, it’s important to keep things moving forward, and that’s exactly what Kickers have done for their 50th anniversary, with the recent introduction of two limited-edition collections: Goldie and Stitch.
The Goldie is a celebration of the brand’s entanglement with everything shiny. East London pawn shops, cash-for-gold signs flickering in the drizzle, and dinner plate-sized sovereign rings have been channelled to produce a Kick Hi that looks like it has stepped out of a scene in Snatch. Gold eyelets, celebratory hardware, embroidered details, and a special gold box account for one of our favourite Kickers releases to date.
Two Goldie Kick Hi iterations are up for grabs in premium Red or Black leather; they’ve got that lived-in feel straight out of the box. And if laces aren’t your thing, there’s a T-Bar version too – double straps, shiny gold buckles, the lot.
And for the other half of the release, there’s Goldie’s more introverted brother – Stitch. Functioning as a nod to the boot’s reputation for individuality, Stitch has been built from a patchwork of premium materials that only look to get better with age. This version of the Kick Hi is centred around self-expression, and is also available in two colourways – Navy & Tan. Both silhouettes have been finished with two sets of cotton laces (tonal or cream) and a semi-transparent cloud cream outsole to round things off.
Fifty years on from Kickers’ birth, it feels fitting that two anniversary releases tell the story of the brand so flawlessly. On one side, you’ve got Goldie, brash, unapologetic, dripping in detail and shining under the lights like it was born to be noticed. On the other hand, Stitch, a quieter kind of statement – layered, thoughtful, and full of character that only deepens with time.
Together, they sum up what the Kick Hi has always been about. The bold and the understated. The extroverts and the daydreamers. The Friday night chaos and the Sunday morning stroll home. Whatever end of that spectrum you fall on, there’s a Kick Hi for you – and this release proves it.
Goldie glitters and Stitch reflects, but both celebrate the same thing: fifty years of a boot that’s been worn, loved, and lived in by everyone. And if these anniversary editions are anything to go by, the next fifty years look just to be just as good.
The Kickers Goldie & Stitch models are available to be purchased now from Kickers.
