The remarkable story of how Joe Foster developed Reebok into one of the world's most famous sports brands, starting from a small factory in Bolton. Since the 19th century, the Foster family handcrafted athletic shoes, supplying athletes like Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, who were later portrayed in the movie Chariots of Fire, as well as providing boots to many Football League teams. However, a family disagreement between Foster's father and uncle about the direction of their business led Joe and his brother Jeff to establish a new company, inspired by the success of Adidas and Puma, and thus Reebok was born.

Initially, money was so scarce that Joe and his wife had to live in their old factory, with the shoe-making machines placed around the edge of the floor, due to its inability to support weight in the center. Yet, from this simple beginning, emerged a major player in the sports equipment field, inspired by Joe's business vision. By the 1980s, Reebok had become a global phenomenon, being the first to recognize the aerobics trend, inspired by Jane Fonda.

Soon, Reeboks were visible on Hollywood red carpets and even in the movie Aliens, where Sigourney Weaver wore a pair of Reebok Alien Stompers. Like the international bestseller Shoe Dog by Nike's Phil Knight, Shoemaker is a powerful story of triumph against all odds, revealing the challenges and sacrifices required to create a world-renowned brand; it is also the story of how a small local business can transform, with the right products and the right vision, into something much, much bigger.

Year of Publication: 2021, Dimensions: 13.1x13.1cm