Designing The Accel

1995

Designing The Accel

1995

Built to Last
and to Skate

Pierre André Sénizergues — a pro skater turned footwear designer — knew that by 1995, skate shoes were missing a sense of progression. etnies was doing well, but there was space for a new brand — one that could push into more technical territory, something largely unexplored in skate footwear at the time.

But before you could explore a truly progressive line, you needed a solid base to build from.

That’s what the ACCEL was meant to be: a go-to shoe that could be an anchor for the brand. A staple every skater could wear — solid, simple, functional. It would open the door for riskier designs to orbit around it.

Black shoe with white

What Pierre didn’t know then was that the ACCEL would stay in the line — in one form or another — for the next thirty years.

éS Founder holding a skateboard above their head in front of plants.

Every Detail Mattered

The outsole came first. Pierre designed a balanced tread pattern that created natural flex points across the base, so the shoe would move with your foot — no stiffness, no dead zones. A 300 NBS high-abrasion rubber compound gave the sole added grip and longevity, lasting nearly three times longer than standard rubber.

The upper was built with durability in mind, without killing board feel. Triple stitching in the toe — rare at the time — helped fight blowouts, while an Ollie pad added reinforcement in all the right places. The toe was shaped to match a board’s concave for the perfect flick.

The heel had sculpted padding for ankle support, and the midfoot panel — the shoe’s most iconic visual feature — wasn’t just for looks. It tied the front and back of the shoe together, almost like a piece of architecture. It also mirrored the accent over the éS logo — one of many thoughtful, subtle touches.

And then there was the tongue. The perfect puffy tongue. Cushioned, centered, and instantly recognizable — it helped hold the foot in place without bulk. For many skaters, this became the defining feel of the ACCEL: snug, supportive, and unmistakably skateable.

Inside, the molded EVA insole and STI Energy Foam provided real impact protection — a huge deal at a time when skaters were throwing themselves down bigger and bigger spots.

Skateboarder performing a trick while jumping down a set of stairs.

Why "Accel"?

The name came from sound and motion. Pierre was thinking about acceleration — that weightless rush you feel when you land clean and ride away. Later, he found out “accel.” was short for accelerando — a musical term that means to gradually increase speed.

Momentum, timing, progression.

Perfect fit.

Skateboarder performing tricks with a shoe advertisement on the side.
Skateboarder performing a trick above a half-pipe with spectators in the background.

Worn by Legends — And They Kept Coming Back

The ACCEL was picked up almost instantly by the likes of Tom Penny, Eric Koston, Bam Margera and later by the likes of Arto Saari and PJ Ladd — whose destroyed pair in Wonderful, Horrible Life became one of the most iconic skate shoe visuals ever.

Close-up of a black sneaker showing texture and stitching details.

OG Change

By the mid-2000s, skate shoe trends split. Some brands went ultra-slim. Others ballooned out. éS had already begun refining and slimming parts of its line, but we felt the ACCEL cold go a different path. It had become too important within skateboarding.

The answer was the confusingly named ACCEL OG — a larger, updated version of the shoe that was more in line with what skaters wanted at the time. Fans loved it.

But the original 1995 shape quietly disappeared.

Skateboarder performing a trick over a rail at night.

For the first time since éS was founded, the true OG ACCEL (Not to be confused with this later, larger ACCEL OG…Still with me?) was out of the line.

Skateboarder performing a trick on a concrete ledge at sunset.

Always on Their Feet, Even Off the Shelves

Around 2011, éS shifted to tighter drops. No big seasonal lines. But this just meant that demand for the ACCEL grew. Skaters never stopped asking for it. Vintage pairs kept popping up. Even off the shelves, the shoe stuck around.

It had become more than a product. It was a reference point as a staple for skateboarding itself, not just the éS product line.

When éS returned to seasonal product lines in 2014, the ACCEL OG came back with them — and a year later, the Slim was introduced. Both found their place in the new era of skateboarding.

That original 1995 shape? Still MIA — but its DNA never left.

Close-up of a black sneaker with white laces.