Footwear brand Etnies, originally a French company, is now owned by American SoleTechnology. Famed in France for skateboarding footwear called Etnics (based on the French word for ethics - indicating the wholesome nature of the sport), in 1989 founder Pierre Senizerges began selling to the US market, using the name 'Etnies'. Now based in Lake Forest, California, Etnies designs shoes for a range of sports from BMX and Motocross to snowboarders and surfers and all stations in between. For specific sports or general all purpose training shoe Etnies is literally hard to beat. Etnies designs shoes not only for men, it has a Girl line for girls and women, features a toddler range, sponsors various sporting events and markets sports clothing etc..