When skate culture meets the heritage of the sewn shoe.
Dime: a creative vision born of skateboarding
Founded in Montreal in 2005, Dime is rapidly establishing itself as a singular player on the global skate scene. The brand was born of a group of friends who made skate videos before expanding their universe to include a complete line of clothing. Their identity is based on a masterful blend of subtle humor, graphic minimalism and Canadian street culture. The label’s sleek logo, quirky visual approach and pieces designed for everyday wear have strengthened its reputation with an international audience.
One of the pillars of this universe remains the Dime Glory Challenge, an annual event that has acquired a cult following. Bringing together professional skateboarders around spectacular challenges, it crystallizes the brand’s philosophy: never take yourself too seriously, but always aim for excellence. Dime also collaborates with influential streetwear and sports brands such as Vans, Reebok and New Balance, consolidating its status as a benchmark in skate culture.
It’s with this in mind that we teamed up with Paraboot, a French company renowned for its expertise and historical links with sewn footwear. The association between these two worlds is not insignificant: skateboarding has always had a close relationship with sturdiness, functionality and the need for a product capable of withstanding intensive use. For its part, Paraboot has cultivated over a century of manufacturing expertise and an attachment to the quality of its leathers, assemblies and emblematic shapes.
The collaboration thus rests on a precise point of balance: bringing together the heritage of a historic shoe with Dime’s contemporary , ironic approach, without distorting either world.
The Thiers model revisited: between tradition and creative detour
At the heart of this collaboration is a new version of the Thiers model, a lightweight, versatile shoe originally launched in the 60s. Reintroduced in recent years thanks to a renewed interest in classic silhouettes and their reinterpretations, the model stands out as the ideal shoe for a skate culture-oriented collaboration.
Dime chose to revisit the shoe with a striking aesthetic: laser-engraved leather, applied in a graphic pattern and complicated by the finesse of the technique.
The result gives this historic model a new, bolder, almost experimental visual dimension. This approach echoes the codes of the Canadian brand, which is fond of offbeat proposals while respecting the fundamental elements of the product.
The choice of the Thiers is not insignificant. Its silhouette, more streamlined than that of iconic models such as the Michael, allows for a more modern interpretation while retaining the basic structure and lines that are the Paraboot signature. The balance is based on three criteria:
– Preserve the quality of manufacturing at the Saint-Jean-de-Moirans workshops
– Introduce a strong graphic identity reflecting the spirit of Dime
– Maintain a functional shoe, adapted to the everyday life of an urban public.
Laser engraving becomes the distinctive element of the project. It represents a technical detour applied to a historically sober model, highlighting the sought-after contrast between an artisanal heritage and the contemporary aesthetics of skate culture.
This approach is a logical extension of Paraboot’ s commitment to promoting its archives, reinterpreting existing models and confirming the brand’s ability to collaborate with cultural players who are helping to develop its image among a new generation of consumers. Dime’s creativity and sense of quirkiness bring Thiers into a more urban register, while respecting the fundamentals of the French brand.
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