Reebok Pump

About

The Reebok Pump is a customizable athletic shoe launched on November 24, 1989. Designed by Design Continuum in partnership with Reebok Advanced Concepts, the shoe originated after Reebok acquired Ellesse in 1988, gaining access to inflatable tongue technology. CEO Paul Fireman established Reebok Advanced Concepts to develop the pump mechanism. A demo version of the Pump, a customizable inflatable and deflatable high-top shoe, was exhibited at the Sporting Goods Manufacturers' Association in February 1989 before its commercial launch. The shoe gained widespread cultural visibility in February 1991 when Dee Brown inflated his Reebok Pumps in front of a national audience before scoring a title-winning dunk during the 1991 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. The Pump subsequently appeared in the 1992 film Juice and later received collaborations with athletes including Allen Iverson. By 2014, Reebok celebrated the shoe's 25th anniversary with global collaborations from major sneaker retailers. The Pump's inflation mechanism, activated by a basketball-shaped button on the tongue, allowed wearers to customize the fit, a then-revolutionary concept in athletic footwear design.