LA Gear, founded in 1983 by Robert Greenberg, Ernest Williams, and Stephen Williams, initially operated from Los Angeles, California. The company experienced rapid growth in the late 1980s, becoming the third-largest athletic shoe company in the United States by 1990. However, facing financial challenges, LA Gear consolidated its operations and relocated its headquarters to Santa Monica, California, in the early 1990s.
After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1998, LA Gear transitioned from manufacturing to focusing solely on licensing its brand for footwear, apparel, and accessories. As of 2025, LA Gear continues to operate as a licensor, with its headquarters based in Los Angeles, California.
Robert Greenberg, after departing from LA Gear in 1992, founded Skechers in Manhattan Beach, California. Initially, Skechers served as a distributor for Doc Martens footwear in the U.S. The company’s first headquarters was Greenberg’s Manhattan Beach condominium at 26th St. and The Strand.
Over the years, Skechers expanded its product line and, as of 2025, has become the third-largest footwear company globally, with its headquarters still located in Manhattan Beach.
The company’s first shoe was a utility boot. The name “Skechers” came from two younger Greenberg family members, who suggested it from the term “skecher,” which they said meant an energetic kid who couldn’t sit still. (The word also is slang for a methamphetamine abuser.)
The Greenbergs created shoe designs in a wide variety of styles and colors, with an eye to appealing to consumers with a young, athletic lifestyle while still providing comfort and reliability. They quickly added lines for women and children, and began introducing sporty casual shoes as well as athletic ones.
Their efforts were a success. Skechers began to take off in the 1990s, reaching $100 million in annual sales in 1995. The privately held company went public with a successful $115 million initial public offering in 1999.
At the time, its sales had more than doubled from $183 million to $372 million. By 2001, the company had opened 59 of its own stores, and announced plans for its first foreign locations in England, Germany and France.
Skechers rose from humble Manhattan Beach beginnings to $8 billion in annual sales
The company’s first shoe was a utility boot. The name “Skechers” came from two younger Greenberg family members, who suggested it from the term “skecher,” which they said meant an energetic kid who couldn’t sit still. (The word also is slang for a methamphetamine abuser.)
The Greenbergs created shoe designs in a wide variety of styles and colors, with an eye to appealing to consumers with a young, athletic lifestyle while still providing comfort and reliability. They quickly added lines for women and children, and began introducing sporty casual shoes as well as athletic ones.
Their efforts were a success. Skechers began to take off in the 1990s, reaching $100 million in annual sales in 1995. The privately held company went public with a successful $115 million initial public offering in 1999.
At the time, its sales had more than doubled from $183 million to $372 million. By 2001, the company had opened 59 of its own stores, and announced plans for its first foreign locations in England, Germany and France.
