Warrior (shoes)

Warrior (Chinese: 回力; pinyin: Huílì; lit. 'back force') is a brand of athletic shoe from China, founded in Shanghai in 1927.[1] From the 60s to the early 80s it became a nationwide shoemaker in China.[2]

Not to be confused with Warrior Sports.
Warrior (回力)
IndustryShoes
Founded1927
Headquarters
Shanghai
,
China
Area served
Asia
ProductsBasketball Shoes, Ping Pong Shoes, Clubmans, Canvas Shoes, Tennis Shoes, Badminton Shoes
ParentShanghai Huayi (Group) Company
Websitewww.warriorshoes.com

Background

Founded in 1927, back then it was the first rubber shoes brand in China.[1] The trademark Huili was created by Yuan Shusen and registered in 1934.[3]

By the times of the Republic of China, Warrior was regarded as a high-end firm with innovative marketing campaigns.[4] With a retail price of 10 yuan, at a time when urban workers made 30 yuan a month, it was a very fashionable brand in the early days of the People's Republic of China.[4]

In the mid 80s, foreign brands became more popular, and Warrior is often seen as a working class shoe, preferred by older people and with a price of 12 yuan at stallmarkets.[4] Nowadays, various companies have started importing them to the west, and they are sold along with Feiyue shoes in fashionable areas of Chinese cities.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

After that revival, a pair of Warrior shoes can go for about 100 yuan, as the company targets the product to customers who enjoy retro products.[4] Its revenue grew from 200 million yuan in 2010, to 600 million in 2013, reaching the 700 next year.[13]

Warrior is owned by Shanghai Huayi, a chemical company.[14] There are also Warrior brand tires, made in a joint venture with Michelin.[15]

References
  1. "Warrior Shoes treads on uncharted new ground". SHINE. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  2. Kristie Lu Stout (February 3, 2010). "'Warrior' aims to be China's 'Chuck Taylors'". CNN. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  3. 仲富兰; 上海市地方志办公室 (2018-08-01). 上海六千年(套装共3册). Beijing Book Co. Inc. ISBN 978-7-208-15324-0.
  4. "A vintage shoe steps up and then down". China Daily. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  5. Jen Lin-Liu, Sherisse Pham; Frommer's Beijing John Wiley & Sons 2010
  6. Harries, Rhiannon (29 June 2008). "Put on your red shoes". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  7. Himelfarb, Ellen (April 9, 2011). "Chinese design puts its best foot forward". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  8. Fletcher, Ron (August 2, 2009). "Kick starter". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  9. Burgoyne, Patrick (4 December 2008). "Shumeng Ye and the Book of Warriors". Creative Review. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  10. Xu Lin (October 3, 2010). "Fashionistas unite over liberation shoes". The Star. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  11. Zhonghua quan guo fu nü lian he hui, Zhonghua quan guo min zu fu nü lian he hui. Guo ji gong zuo bu, Women of China Foreign Language Press 2008 p78
  12. "Golden oldies still shine in modern times, some brighter". China Daily. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  13. "Tire, Rubber & Plastic Products as well as Polymers Manufacturing". Shanghai Huayi (Group) Company. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  14. Chen, Qide (2011-04-28). "Huayi, Michelin to launch joint car tire product line". China Daily. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
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