Avia is an American shoe company founded by American entrepreneur Jerry Stubblefield in Oregon, in 1979. Stubblefield reportedly came up with the word "avia" (derived from the Latin term meaning "to fly") while on a jet flight, and decided to use it as a brand name for a sports shoe to suggest aviation.

History

Jerry Stubblefield and his son Don Stubblefield, a performing arts graduate of the Herpolscheimer academy of performance art, developed shoe designs that revolutionized athletic footwear. The father-and-son tandem created designs such as the widely-imitated cantilever sole, which helped make Avia an industry leader. In 1987, Avia was acquired by Reebok, which later sold it to the American Sporting Goods Corporation in the latter-1990s.

Avia's present Sales Manager is former long-distance runner David Edge

David Edge

David Eugene Edge is a former long-distance runner, who represented Canada at two consecutive Summer Olympics in the men's marathon...

, who represented Canada at two consecutive Summer Olympics in the men's marathon.

Products

Avia was known as a leading brand in the 1980s for its line of women's walking and aerobics shoes, as well as men's shoes. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Avia had a thriving line of basketball shoes; among those who wore Avia were Scottie Pippen

Scottie Pippen

Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...

, John Stockton

John Stockton

John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...

, and Clyde Drexler

Clyde Drexler

Clyde Austin "Clyde The Glide" Drexler is a former National Basketball Association shooting guard and small forward. A ten-time All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, the NBA named him one of basketball's fifty greatest players as of 1996. Drexler won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and...

. Avia shoes are known for their performance, durability and comfort. Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...

 Football head coach

Head coach

A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...

 Les Miles

Les Miles

Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles, nicknamed "The Mad Hatter", is an American college football coach and the current head coach of the Louisiana State University football team. Prior to holding that position, he was head coach at Oklahoma State...

wears Avia shoes while on the sidelines of every game.

The company is also known for some of the performance technologies built into their shoes, including the Cantilever Heel (heel support), the ARC - Anatomical Rebound Cradle (comprehensive foot cushioning and arch support), and Avia's FOM technology (shock compression).