When we think of Reebok, we think of lager-soaked kitchens at four in the morning. Teenagers trudging across muddy festival fields in search of lost friends. Dance floors still packed long after the last record has been spun.
Few brands are as deeply woven into Britain’s music and nightlife culture. Maybe it’s Reebok’s North West roots. Maybe it’s down to how easy the leather is to wipe clean. Or maybe it’s simply because they suit pretty much any occasion. Rain or shine, in daylight or under strobe lights – it doesn’t matter, a pair of Classics will always look good.
To find out what makes Reebok such a revered name in regard to dance music and club culture, we caught up with an individual who lives comfortably in that world. Louie Britton (@luurrchh) is a 23-year-old music production student who has collected more trainers, jackets, and records than most could hope to amass in a lifetime.
We joined Louie for a day perusing Manchester’s record shops, eager to find out his take on what continues to make Reebok such an authority on the dance floor.
Hi Louie, are you okay to explain a little bit about who you are, what you do, and what interests you?
Hi man, I’m good, thanks. Just trying to get my head down and cracking on with work and that. Got an album to make.
A bit about me: not sure where to start. Mainly I’m a musician/DJ/producer/bass player. I’m also a model and big into fashion, especially when we’re talking jackets and trainers. Outside of my creative stuff, I also have a healthy obsession with Leeds United and the Second World War – so definitely a mixed bag really; I just like making and learning stuff, always have, always will.
When did you first develop an interest in footwear? And what shaped your taste?
I’ve thought long and hard about this because I’ve always loved footwear and what it can tell you about a person. But it first became an obsession when I started getting into the football terrace culture/fashion.
One of the pivotal points was seeing my mum’s ex come back from an adidas Spezial launch with every trainer from the drop. I was never allowed more than one pair of smart trainers, so seeing someone have a full collection was mind-blowing. I remember thinking ‘this is going to be a problem when I start making my own money‘ and safe to say it has.
You grew up in the North of England. Has this had any bearing on your style/taste in clothes/footwear?
I couldn’t think of anything else that’s been as influential, to be honest. I feel like there’s a level of respect that comes with clothes and shoes up here that you don’t really get anywhere else. And as I said before, I feel like you can tell who a person is and what they’re about just from their trainers when you’re in the North.
Did you wear Reebok growing up?
No, but I always wanted to. Reeboks are a staple that everyone needs in their collection, and now I’m making my own money they’re definitely in the rotation.
What kind of characteristics are you looking for in a shoe when you go out to listen to dance music or gigs?
I think it depends on where you’re going. If I’m going out clubbing, it’s got to be the smartest ones I’ve got. But if I’m off to a gig or a festival, they’ve got to be comfortable enough where I can last on my feet all day. They also need to be easy to clean no matter where I am. You cannot be knocking about in filthy trainers.
Reebok has become synonymous with club culture. Why do you think this is?
I mean it’s a brand rooted deeply in the north of England, which just so happened to be the epicentre of club culture during the late ’80s and ’90s. Silhouettes like the Reebok Classic just stand the test of time both in looks and comfort. I think it was inevitable they’d become intertwined.
How would you describe the dress sense of Manchester?
I absolutely love how people dress here. It’s just so freeing to be able to wear whatever you want – Stevenson Square feels like a runway show sometimes.
Living here has introduced me to a lot of new brands that I just wouldn’t have found before. Stuff like the Japanese brands you get in places like Suzy Loves Milo.
Can you tell us a little bit about the records you bought?
Most of them were The Style Council singles that I’ve not managed to get in the collection yet. I’m a massive Weller fan; you can probably tell by my haircut.
The other record was a Shinehead cover of Billie Jean. I don’t think I need to explain that one; how can you beat a reggae version of an all-time great like that?
You’re stranded on a desert island with only one record – what is it?
Mate, one record? How could you even ask that?
If I had to pick one, it would be The Stone Roses’ debut, just for the fact it’s what got me into music properly. But there are ones like Oasis’s The Masterplan, King Krule’s live album, J Dilla’s Donuts and the Style Council’s Café Bleu that could all make it as well.
What springs to mind when you think of Reebok? Any particular shoe, release or moment?
I’d have to say the Reebok and Palace collab – the black Classics. I was skating when they released, so I was bang into Palace and loved all the football stuff, so it felt like the perfect collab for me as a 15-year-old. Still love them now, just need to find a pair in my size.
Is there anything you admire about Reebok when comparing it to other footwear brands?
I’m gonna say the fact that they haven’t changed what they’re known for. They’ve updated and moved with the times, but still haven’t forgotten the classics. No pun intended.
Do you feel like Reebok is part of the identity of the North of England?
Yes. Reebok is deeply rooted in the North. Whether it’s on the terraces, on the pitch or in the clubs, there will be a pair of Reeboks within a ten-metre radius. Guaranteed.
What do you think the most iconic Reebok of all time is?
I mean it’s got to be the Classic, really. Although the Club C I wore were really nice too.
What’s the most iconic Reebok moment of all time in your opinion?
You know that clip of the guy requesting a song on the radio? Are those Reebok or Nike?
In all seriousness, I don’t know why, but I’d probably say those old Liverpool kits – they just spring to mind straight away when I think of Reebok.
What do you make of the garment leather finish on the Reeboks you wore?
Love it. Exactly what you need if you’re going to be wearing white shoes. You’re never going to see me in white shoes that aren’t leather. Nice clean finish as well; they’re proper, no messing about.
How would you style a white pair of Club C?
I think the outfit I wore for the shoot is exactly how I’d wear it, just let the shoes stand out.
One word to describe Reebok?
Staple.
