Airwalk was a popular boardsport lifestyle footwear company that hit its zenith in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The company made skate shoes, t-shirts, snowboard boots, and other products. Airwalk was established in 1986 by Bill Mann and a business partner, and throughout the years sponsored a who's who of professional skaters including Jason Lee and Tony Hawk. In the mid-90's, after the ill-advised ouster of Mann, his octegenarian partner made the decision to "go mainstream" and abandon their core customer. It was the beginning of the end. Although there was a brief rise in sales, questionable designs and poorly received marketing doomed the brand. After a few ownership changes, Airwalk finally found a place at the discount store level. Currently new shoes are being sold at various discount shoe stores like Payless Shoes and Modells around the country.

Airwalk's rise and fall in popularity is a case study in The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, a best-selling 2002 book by Malcolm Gladwell.

External links

• Official Airwalk Site