California-based footwear brand Etnies, founded in 1986 and owned by Sole Technology, revealed that Sal Barbier will be the Creative Director of a newly announced SLB, by etnies line.
Barbier and Etnies were linked in the early 1990s when the former skate pro rode the Etnies Red Rap High in Plan B’s skate movie Questionable. He went on to design his signature shoe, the Etnies Sal 23 Pro Model, which was released in 1994.
Barbier’s influence as a skateboarder, designer and creative director makes him the perfect person for this role at Etnies. The brand and Barbier will kick off the partnership with the relaunch of the iconic Sal 23 for Christmas 2024. Barbier is currently in the process of designing an SLB by Etnies collection that will launch in Spring 2026. As creative director, Barbier will develop the Etnies SLB line with a focus on style and function from a skateboarder’s perspective, the company said.
