Bata x Wilson: John Wooden Sneakers

Bata Heritage is proud to relaunch with Wilson the John Wooden sneaker, one of the most iconic products that the brand has carried in it’s 124-year history. Wilson and Bata partnered in the early 1970s to develop sport shoes, including the John Wooden sneaker. It was tribute to one of America’s greatest basketball coaches and the only person to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame both as a player (1960) and a coach (1973). Nicknamed the ‘Wizard of Westwood’. John Wooden won 10 NCAA national championships between 1964 and 1975 as head coach at UCLA – including a record seven in a row. Wooden retired at the age of 64 after a 27-year UCLA coaching carer, and in 2009 was voted the ‘Greatest Coach of All Time’ by The Sporting News magazine.

Launched in 1977, the Bata x Wilson John Wooden sneaker featured a revolutionary polyurethane sole that was exceptionally lightweight. It was famously worn by Magic Johnson on and off the court. Despite the sneaker’s design excellence, the line only lasted one year but its influence lived on – as it is one of the most sought-after sneakers amongst collectors.

This relaunch includes John Wooden lo-top sneaker in white leather and rubber sole with contrasting side logo and back detailing in pink, burgundy and yellow, as well as a hi-top, also in white, with contrasting black, blue and green side logo with back detailing.

The Bata x Wilson John Wooden sneakers are available at Dover Street Market New York, London and Ginza Tokyo, Footshop in Prague, De Bijenkorf and Baskets in Amsterdam, as well as on www.bataheritage.com and www.wilson.com 

The Bata x Wilson collection will be released in Dover Street Market on the 14th July and then will progress to be released in other stores.