When I turned twenty I was stoked to have a back yard barbeque with a dozen close mates and an even-closer couple of cases of beer that stretched out over a whole weekend. But now I feel ripped. After throwing a massive shindig earlier this year in New York City, footwear luminary etnies look set to keep their twentieth birthday celebrations going all YEAR long. More than 4,000 people turned up to celebrate etnies’ 20th in the city of the brand’s origin, Paris. And by all accounts it was a very gay (as in joyous) Paris affair.
To commemorate two decades of pioneering skateboard footwear, the exclusive etnies 20 Year Anniversary party was held at the Palais de Tokyo and etnies flew in friends from all over the world including legends Natas Kaupas and Sal Barbier. The outdoor terrace of the Palais de Tokyo was transformed into an open-air dance floor with open bars, stage and DJ booth to keep the tunes a flowin’ as thick as the copious amounts of booze being consumed. The etnies 20 Year timeline was showcased while reels of archived video footage highlighting some of etnies’ team riders greatest moments played. etnies team riders also made their presence known at the event – Arto Saari, Rune Glifberg, Ronnie Creager, Kyle Leeper, Ali Boulala, Ryan Sheckler, Bastien Salabanzi, Conhuir Lynn, Elissa Steamer and Lauren Perkins were all spotted rubbing shoulders with guests. So while many of us would be content for a few snags and a plate of fairy bread to celebrate another year on the planet, etnies, being the smugly popular bastards they are, made sure folks from all corners of the globe travelled to Paris to celebrate the company milestone.
Their official reason? So as guests could grasp the culture behind the brand’s heritage from the city where it all began. But seriously, who needs an excuse to pool your mates together and get shitfaced for your birthday? Happy twentieth etnies!