Article: California's connection. (shoe fashion in Southern California)(FN Sportstyle)

California's Connection

Drawing inspiration from its trend-setting skateboard craze, surf-related neons, and aqua-shoe styling, Southern California's lifestyle-based shoe firms are seeding a new spirit in fun, colorful, casual footwear.

Setting the pace are the region's street trends, music and urge to be different, explains Eric Meyer, director of design, Vision Street Wear, Santa Ana, Calif. "Most of the shoes we see are outgrowths of that," says Meyer. "Skateboarders don't like to be associated with the mainstream. It's a subculture. Converse and Nike have stuff everybody and his kid sister can get."

Plus, the area's population density fosters ...

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