Avia is an American footwear and clothing company that specializes in running, yoga and lifestyle activewear, shoes and accessories. Avia was founded in 1979 by Jerry Stubblefield, and is currently a subsidiary of the Sequential Brands Group.
History
Avia was founded in Oregon in 1979 by Jerry Stubblefield. Stubblefield reportedly came up with the word "avia" while on a jet flight, and decided to use it as a brand name for a sports shoe to suggest aviation. Jerry Stubblefield and his son Don Stubblefield developed shoe designs that revolutionized athletic footwear. The father-and-son tandem created designs such as the widely imitated cantilever sole, which helped make Avia an industry leader. In 1987, Avia was acquired by Reebok for $180 million, which later sold it to the American Sporting Goods Corporation in the later-1990s. Avia has since been acquired by the Sequential Brands Group in the Galaxy Brands deal in 2014.
Products
Avia made its name as a leading brand in the 1980s for its line of women's walking and aerobics shoes, as well as men's shoes. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Avia had a thriving line of basketball shoes; among those who wore Avia were Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, John Salley, AC Green, Clyde Drexler, and the serial killerRichard Ramírez. Avia shoes are known for their performance, durability and comfort. Former Louisiana State University Football head coachLes Miles wears Avia shoes while on the sidelines of every game. The company is also known for some of the performance technologies built into their shoes, including the Cantilever Heel, the ARC – Anatomical Rebound Cradle, and Avia's FOM technology. In 1991, Avia filed a lawsuit against Nike, alleging that Nike's Air 180 and Air Force 180 running and basketball shoes infringed upon Avia patents. Avia accused Nike of pirating its Cantilever technology, which uses a cushion to provide shock absorption and stability. The company contended the technology has been the basis of its products since Avia was founded in 1980. Avia widened the suit in January 1992 and settled in December 1992. Avia introduced its line of performance and lifestyle activewear in 2013, building upon its continued success within the active category, and later came out with wearable technology in 2015.
