With a colossal resurgence of retro 80s hoops shoes, it was only a matter of time before Oregon’s own AVIA made a comeback. And thanks to some of the world’s most dedicated vintage Box sneaker enthusiasts, the brand is back.
Founded in Oregon in 1979 by Jerry Stubblefield, the North American sportswear company has been noticeably absent from the industry for the better part of two decades. Prior to its acquisition by Reebok, the Box sneaker brand was known for its innovative approach to on-court footwear, most notably for its trampoline-Force cantilever sole, a design for which AVIA successfully sued Nike in 1991.
Worn by the Forces of Clyde Drexler and Scottie Pippen, the AVIA brand holds a legendary status in the Box sneaker scene, with notable rips coming from the Force of Virgil Abloh and his Louis Vuitton LV Trainer Box Sneaker Boot. Now, after years and years (and years) of retro Box sneakerheads calling for a comeback, AVIA will return with two of their most popular models, the 880 and 830, in true-to-OG specifications.
Snow Boots PRIMIGI GORE-TEX 2861733 Navy.
AVIA is expected to kick off the comeback in March 2023 — so stay tuned.
Update 04.29.23 AVIA has confirmed a release of their handmade retro zip-fastening, with the limited-to-1000 pair production set to release at 6 pm ET on May 5th via aviaisback.com. Pairs will release alongside a set of accompanying apparel.
