The Rugged Allure of the Reebok Beatnik Sandal with Leo Gamboa

Catching up with Leo Gamboa, Reebok's Global Product Manager, END. discuss the return of the Beatnik and the history of the lauded sandal.

Originally launching onto the scene back in 1994, the Reebok Beatnik Sandal offered a sensibility that captured the free-spirited attitude of its namesake, the Beat Generation, wrapped up in a forward-thinking, hiking aesthetic. Tapping into the pervasive outdoors aesthetic that the '90s championed, the rugged, trail-sandal was catapulted to stardom in Japan, finding favour amongst sneaker fans and outdoor aficionados alike.

A cult sensation overseas, the style has remained a firm favourite for collectors for the past 26 years, with scarce supply and rare iterations in exceedingly high demand. Following Reebok's collaboration with Beams and Needles in 2018, and the upcoming Pleasures collaboration, the sportswear brand prep the Beatnik to enter the modern sandal arena with their Cordura pack.

Sitting down with Reebok's Global Product Manager, Leo Gamboa, END. discuss the return of the storied Reebok Beatnik, the silhouette's cult appeal in Japan and why now was the perfect time for the sandal to take over.

Reebok wanted to create a new wave sandal offering great comfort and leading edge design. It stood out from our other sandals at the time because of its aggressive shark-tooth sole and its closed-toe oil-suede upper. The shoe also featured a molded EVA footbed providing cushioning and a better fit than most sandals, as well as high tensile strength nylon web straps adding support and stability.

Here’s a great blurb on the distinction of a Beatnik from the book "The History of Fashion" – "a Beat scoffs at material narcissism. The beat is passing through, an anthropologist of the underworld, he signals his alienness not by presenting an alternative style but rather by an indifference to style itself."

Originally made in Brazil and released in the West, it gained cult status in Japan, where traveling footwear enthusiasts brought the Beatniks overseas to Asia. It was so rare and desirable to the public it eventually became a cult icon.  

Japan has always been at the forefront of fashion and trends. With the Beatnik being an icon in Japan for the past few years, it was just a matter of time for the rest of the world to see and feel how special this model is.   

To me the original shape and ripple sole really separate this silhouette from the rest.  The upper can be executed in so many different ways as you will see this year and in 2021.

As with many styles and trends, sometimes it takes the right project or person to really get things rolling.  Once the Needles Beatnik launched in Dec 2018, the collaboration was so well received that it created global hype and high anticipation for the next launch. 

Since the launch with Needles, people started to realize how special this model was and how hard It was to purchase for the past year.  Japan was sold out and everyone I know was trying Yahoo Jp and Ebay auctions to get lucky.  Added support would come from Organiclab.zip and Daniel Pacitti (friends of the brand) as well.   

During its Asia release, many friends and brands asked if we could expand this model globally. With evolving styles and modern trends leaning further into the outdoors and trail inspiration, it was a great time to expand distribution.  

For the global launches we have tried to keep the design as true to the original as possible.  We did add one new option to a few of the newer models – a removable heel strap - giving the option of a true mule slide. The Pleasures collaboration will be the first model to release with that feature. 

For 2020 - 2021 we have a few very strong inline packs rolling out and some great collaborations on the way.  We will continue to highlight this model for the next few seasons.