Hi-Tec® celebrates its 50th anniversary with a modernized Sierra Light.

HI-TEC® was born in England on May 1, 1974, with the development of squash shoes. HI-TEC took its first serious step into the outdoor scene with the world's first lightweight hiking boot, the "Sierra," and has produced many masterpieces, including the "Silver Shadow," which took the British running shoe market by storm. And this year, celebrating its 50th anniversary, the brand released "Sierra Light," a modernized version of its most iconic model. Lightweight and durable, the design projects the mood of the times. Isn't this the kind of sneaker you want to wear now?

Photo_Teppei Hori

Styling_Hiroki Matsui

Hair_Fumiya Ushiku

Model_SOTA, GEN, Kyomi Togashi, Chihiro

Text_Atsutaro Ito

Edit_Yusuke Suzuki

A half-century of history that continues to step out from England into the world.

The fashion visuals shot in HOUYHNHNM's were modeled by four youths and capture a world view inspired by the first "Sierra Sneaker" campaign visual (above right).

It is easy to see how the modernization of the outdoor model "Sierra Sneaker" into the "Sierra Lite" has transformed it into a more fashionable model, compared to the visuals of the time, isn't it?

Part of a catalog from that time. . It can be confirmed that "Sierra Sneakers" were also released for kids.

Hitech Sports, Inc. was started by Frank Van Wesel (father of the current CEO) in the village of Shoeburyness, , England.

Since its establishment in 1974, in the form following the above "Sierra Sneakers", "Silver Shadow" that 23% of the runners who participated in the London Marathon held in the same year in 1981 was worn, "Magnum" that created ties with the British army and the U.S. FBI in 1982, etc. . and many other masterpieces that have never faded away.

In addition, the company also released the "Altitude IV," which was the No. 1 selling hiking boot in the U.S. From outdoor activities to sports, it has proven to be a solid presence in a variety of fields.

In the 1990s, 52 players in the Premier League, one of the world's most prestigious soccer leagues, wore "King's Cup" soccer shoes. In 1995, "Hi-Tec®" was adopted as the official shoe of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. In the United Kingdom, the birthplace of the brand, HIGHTECH® has had a major impact.

In 2015, Nick Matthew, a three-time squash world champion and contract player for Hi-Tec®, was awarded the Order of the British Empire by Princess Anne of England. This was news that was felt around the world as a strong presence in the world of squash, where the brand was launched.

And the 50th anniversary year in 2024. As anniversary models, "Silver Shadow" and "Squash Classic" have been modernized and released so far. We hope you will enjoy the history of the brand and "Sierra Light," as well as the past and future of "Hi-Tech®.