What Botas is known for
Czech sneaker brand tracing to 1949 in Skutec, East Bohemia; its 1966 canvas Classic model was so ubiquitous it gave Czech the generic word for sneaker, 'botasky.' Design duo Jan Kloss and Jakub Korous relaunched it as Botas 66 in 2008-09.
The original Botas company was established in 1949 in the small East Bohemian town of Skutec and became a major Czechoslovak sports-shoe maker; its 1966 canvas 'Classic' model became such a fixture of daily life that 'botasky' entered the Czech language as the everyday word for sneakers. In 2008, graphic design students Jan Kloss and Jakub Korous, then studying at Prague's UMPRUM art academy, began a school project reworking the historic shoe in new colors; the project won a European Design Award and led to the 2009 launch of a standalone label, BOTAS 66. The brand has since built collaborations, including with carmaker Skoda, while continuing to manufacture in the Czech Republic.
Best for — Czech leather sneakers and retro sports shoes
Czech Republic
Where next
- Loake — United Kingdom
- Martinelli — Spain
- Softinos — Portugal
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